UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry kicks off Give Kids A Smile

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry's Give Kids A Smile event provided free care to children up to age 18. Photo by Dwight Andrews/UTHealth Houston Creative Services.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry served as the national kickoff site for the American Dental Association’s Give Kids A Smile® program on Feb. 6, during National Children’s Dental Health Month, providing free dental care to over 200 uninsured children from across the Greater Houston and Galveston areas.

With a strong focus on prevention, children received comprehensive dental exams, diagnostic imaging, oral hygiene instruction, cleanings, sealants, and fluoride varnish applications. In necessary cases, providers performed restorations, pulpotomies, endodontic procedures, and simple extractions.

“For more than two decades, Give Kids A Smile has been a cornerstone of the School of Dentistry’s outreach mission, reflecting our commitment to improving oral health and overall health through compassionate, community-centered care,” said Raha K. Naderi, RDH, MEd, director of community outreach. “Serving as the national kickoff site this year spotlights the collective work of our students, residents, faculty, staff, and community partners to ensure children leave not only with healthier smiles, but with confidence, comfort, and a clear path to ongoing care.”

Throughout the School of Dentistry’s 22nd annual event, children were welcomed for an experience designed to improve oral health and ease dental anxiety.

Patients were first seen for diagnostic assessments and X-rays before being triaged and assigned to dental students, dental hygiene students, or resident providers based on individual needs. Care was tailored to each child, ensuring both immediate needs and preventive measures were addressed.

Making an impact

For many children, Give Kids A Smile marked their first visit to the dentist, a milestone that made the experience especially meaningful for students pursuing careers in pediatric dentistry.

“Give Kids A Smile is about removing barriers to care and showing children from all backgrounds that oral health matters — and that it can be a positive experience,” said Carolina Yguerabide, a fourth-year dental student who will pursue her residency in pediatric dentistry. “Our goal isn’t just to fix teeth for a day. It’s about building trust, confidence, and big smiles that support healthier futures.”

Classmate Hanan Abdelgilil, who will also pursue a residency in pediatric dentistry, echoed the importance of connecting with children and shaping lifelong oral health habits.

“In treating my adult patients, I often saw that their oral health struggles began in childhood,” Abdelgilil said. “Pediatric dentistry isn’t just about pulpotomies and sealants — it’s about being the foundation of prevention and oral health from the very beginning. It’s never just about the procedures, but about meeting patients in moments of vulnerability with empathy.”

The emphasis on prevention and patient education was also central to the experience of dental hygiene students.

Second-year dental hygiene student Karyn Lu, who plans to work in a pediatric dentistry clinic after graduation, said the event reaffirmed why she wants to care for kids.

“Give Kids A Smile allows me to work with children and make a positive impact early in their oral health journey,” Lu said. “Many of the families we see may not otherwise have access to care, and I enjoy learning how to connect with each child while making the experience positive. Educating children about oral hygiene is especially rewarding, because it gives them tools they can use long after the dental visit.”

Families and community in focus

Give Kids A Smile served children up to age 18, with the Tiny Smiles initiative focusing on the youngest, up to age 3. All children were accompanied by a parent or guardian.

For the families being served, that emphasis on early care was felt immediately. For one family, Give Kids A Smile offered a multi-generational opportunity in dental care. Jimmy Henshaw, who grew up around the dental school, brought his young daughter to Tiny Smiles — introducing her to dental care in the same welcoming environment he remembered from childhood. Jimmy is the son of Pat and Kathleen Henshaw, both of whom have been School of Dentistry staff members for over 28 years.

“Even as a child, the experience here was always inviting,” he said. “Dentistry can be scary, but the people here know how to comfort patients and make the process better. Bringing my daughter here feels like a full-circle moment — it makes me proud to see how the school continues to serve families and create a place where kids feel safe.”

Patients were referred through a network of community partners, including Communities In Schools–Houston, CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic, Santa Maria Hostel, and additional school and community organizations that helped identify children most in need of care.

Beyond the clinical care, the event created a welcoming and joyful environment. Activities included face painting, balloon art, art stations, educational activities from Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Future, visits from the tooth fairy, and canine companions from Paws for Therapy. To further ease anxiety, students handcrafted felt friends — small felt figures children could take home as a comforting reminder of their visit.

At the end of their visit, each child received a goodie bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, along with information on maintaining healthy teeth and finding a long-term dental home at the School of Dentistry or a community clinic.

It takes a village

Care was delivered by a multidisciplinary team of fourth-year dental students, second-year dental hygiene students, and residents in pediatric dentistry, endodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery, with faculty and external volunteer dentists from the Greater Houston Dental Society serving in supervisory roles. This collaborative model provided hands-on learning opportunities while expanding access to care for children who might otherwise go untreated.

The School of Dentistry’s Give Kids A Smile event was organized and coordinated by the Office of Patient Care. Clinical operations were supported by MiPACS by Apryse, which enabled centralized imaging and seamless coordination across clinical spaces.

National sponsors Colgate and Henry Schein supported the occasion, along with local sponsors Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, UTSDHouston ASDA, Greater Houston Dental Society Foundation, Bien Air Dental, Dentsply Sirona, Midwest Dental, Esthetics Dental Studio, and Ivoclar.

Prior to the event, a kickoff reception was held on Feb. 5 for providers and sponsors at The Parador.