The UNC School of Dentistry hosted the national kick-off of the American Dental Association’s annual Give Kids A Smile event last Friday.

More than 150 local kids received free dental check-ups and procedures, learned more about taking care of their teeth and hung around with Grayson, the School of Dentistry’s rehabilitative therapy dog.

Michael Davis, a third-year dental students at the School of Dentistry and president of the Student National Dental Association at UNC, led the organizing of the event this year. He said his school’s administration and other healthcare disciplines on campus were very supportive of the idea.

“I wanted to see us expand the scope of treatment, and I said, ‘What better person to talk to then the dean of my school?’” he said. “We say it all the time, and it’s so much more than that. That’s, ‘transforming dentistry for better health.’ And so, I said, ‘dean, I have to talk to you.’ And I walked in there and we talked and that’s kind of what got the ball rolling.”

UNC Give Kids a Smile event 2019. Phto via Sam Bermas-Dawes.

The lobby in the School of Dentistry was lined with different student groups and UNC schools that had activities and information related to dental healthcare. Rameses and some UNC athletes were also on hand to entertain the kids before they were brought upstairs for their visit.

The dental clinic was busy with parents and children. A UNC student dressed up as a Disney princess was making her rounds for the kids.

First-year dentistry student Spencer Stewart was on hand to help out for the day. He said many of the kids were less stressed-out as you’d think about sitting in a dentist’s chair.

“It’s definitely, it seems like, a different feel than your average dental visit from the kid’s point of view.”

Grayson, the dentistry’s rehabilitative golden retriever, was doing her rounds to help out any kids uncomfortable about their visit to the dentists. She’s been trained to sit in the chair with kids, so they have company through their check-up.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Schools, Morehead Planetarium Make Medical Supply Donations
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says it requested 500,000 each of N95 masks, gowns, gloves, face shields and coveralls from the federal stockpile to help health care workers be properly protected while treating patients. As of Sunday, all amounts of that PPE, or personal protective equipment, are less than requested. That’s […]
Focus Carolina: Jessica Lee
Tune in to Focus Carolina during morning, noon and evening drive times and on the weekends to hear stories from faculty members at UNC and find out what ignites their passion for their work. Focus Carolina is an exclusive program on 97.9 The Hill WCHL, sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Jessica […]
Largest Gift in UNC Dental School History Funds Scholarship, Community Work
The UNC school of Dentistry received the largest one-time gift in its history this week. Almost $28 million from the estate of Dr. Claude A. Adams III will go to scholarships for qualifying students and add to existing scholarship funds. The money will also go to student service-learning programs at UNC in order to fund […]
UNC Names New Dean of School of Dentistry
Dr. Scott De Rossi has been selected by UNC to serve as the new dean of the School of Dentistry. De Rossi was most recently the chair of the oral health and diagnostic sciences department at August University’s Dental College of Georgia. “I am honored to be chosen to lead Carolina’s School of Dentistry,” De […]
College Football's Transfer Portal Opens January 2. Which Tar Heels Are Planning to Enter?
The college football transfer portal will open Friday, January 2 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 16. It will be the only transfer portal window of the year for college football, as the NCAA moved to eliminate the spring transfer window earlier this year. Players do not have to have committed to and […]
Chansky's Notebook: Growth Spurt
Against arguably the three toughest opponents it has played this season, 8-1 UNC is improving step by step.
UNC Locker Room Reactions: Georgetown
UNC beat Georgetown 81-61 at the Smith Center Sunday night. Check out what the Tar Heels had to say after the win: Caleb Wilson On his performance: I just try not to force stuff. Just play the game, find who’s open, tell my teammates to get in a position where I can see them and just […]
UNC Men's Basketball Pulls Away in 2nd Half, Defeats Georgetown in 'Throwback' Game
On a night when Carolina paid tribute to the past at the Dean Smith Center, the Tar Heels showed why the future is bright in a 81-61 win against Georgetown Sunday. HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/8tGNukWfhB — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) December 8, 2025 The Tar Heels led for more than 33 minutes on the night, […]
UNC Women's Basketball Returns Home With Rout of Boston University
Playing their first home game in two weeks, the Tar Heels dominated visiting Boston University at Carmichael Arena Sunday and cruised to an 82-40 win. 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 Win.@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/8fYnPWpSpx — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 7, 2025 After committing a season-high 20 turnovers in its loss at No. 2 Texas Thursday night, Carolina tied […]
UNC Volleyball's 2025 Season Ends vs. No. 3 Wisconsin in NCAA Tournament
No. 3 seed Wisconsin swept UNC in three sets in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night in Madison. Carolina’s 2025 season is over. The Badgers dominated the first set and won 25-14, earning an early advantage in the match. But the Tar Heels stayed close in the second, cutting what had been […]
›