College of Dentistry to Host Annual Give Kids A Smile Day May 7

The College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center will host its annual Give Kids A Smile Day on Wednesday, May 7, from 8 a.m. until noon, in the Delta Dental of Tennessee Building, 875 Union Ave.

The event will provide free dental services to more than 100 middle and high school students from Freedom Preparatory Academy and Soulsville Charter School, reflecting the college’s mission of service and community engagement, as well as its vision, “To take care of people.”

Founded by the American Dental Association in 2003, Give Kids A Smile is a larger initiative to deliver free oral health care to underserved children. UT Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry has proudly participated in this initiative for over a decade. This year, approximately 150 College of Dentistry volunteers, including students, staff, and faculty members, will participate.

The oral care services are performed at no cost by 3rd- and 4th-year dental students, as well as dental hygiene students, with the support and supervision of licensed faculty. The day will consist of preventive and restorative procedures like examinations, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and fluoride applications.

“I am delighted to announce this year’s support from Delta Dental of Tennessee’s Smile180 Foundation,” said Cassandra Christiansen, RDH, EdD, director of School-Based Programs and Community Outreach for the College of Dentistry. “Their generous contribution has been instrumental in recognizing and appreciating the hard work and dedication of all students and volunteers who make these community service events possible. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to enhancing dental education and outreach efforts within our community.”

This marks the third year both middle and high school students from Freedom Prep have participated in Give Kids a Smile Day. It is the first time students from Soulsville Charter School will take part.

“Expanding our services to include older students allows us to address more complex oral health issues that often go untreated during adolescence,” Dr. Christiansen said. “It also provides our dental and dental hygiene students the opportunity to engage with a broader range of cases, strengthening their clinical skills and patient communication.”

Tonya Biles, dean of Family and Community Engagement at Soulsville Charter School, shared her excitement about joining this year’s event. “We know the middle school years are important, and the opportunity to ensure our students and their families are happy and healthy in every way means a lot to us,” Biles said. “Through this partnership, our middle school students will receive free dental care and education—some for the first time.”

Through events like Give Kids a Smile, the College of Dentistry continues its deep commitment to public service. Each year, the college provides affordable or no-cost dental care to thousands of underserved patients in the region, strengthening its mission to reduce barriers to oral health care and support the well-being of the greater Memphis community.