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.

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