On Feb. 7, UNC’s Adams School of Dentistry held its 11th annual Give Kids A Smile Day, providing local children with free dental care services.
The student-led event provides services including dental exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, extractions, fluoride, sealants, x-rays and oral health education.
"This event allows our entire dental school community to come together and focus on a shared goal, providing high-quality oral health care for children and families across our area,” Dr. Janet Guthmiller, dean of the Adams School of Dentistry said in an email statement to The Daily Tar Heel.
Clinic Chairs and third-year dental students Ysabella Gallo and Ben Lee said they found organizing the event to be a rewarding experience.
“Give Kids a Smile Day is an extremely special and impactful day, as it highlights the fact that every child deserves a healthy smile and someone that advocates for them,” Gallo wrote in the email. “GKAS has been an incredibly meaningful experience, and I am grateful to be part of it.”
Lee wrote that access to timely, affordable dental care is a major barrier for families in North Carolina and across the country, also writing that he is grateful for the opportunity to address the dental needs of the community through Give Kids A Smile Day.
“We hope this event will raise awareness about the extent of unmet oral health needs in our communities and inspire lasting changes that make oral health equity an achievable reality,” Lee wrote.
Gallo said seeing the event's effect on families has been the most impactful part of her experience. She said being involved for the past three years paved her way toward pursuing a career in pediatric dentistry.
“With a lot of our patients, we hear that this is their first time at the dentist. And you know, that's the sad reality of what we're facing,” Gallo said. “So with Give Kids a Smile, we're really building that bridge with dental care and these families that otherwise wouldn't see a dentist.”
