On March 28, the UNMC College of Dentistry held its annual Children’s Dental Day from Lincoln, bringing together UNMC dental, dental hygiene and nursing students to provide dental care to children who quite often have little or no access to important dental services such as cleaning teeth, filling cavities and addressing other more serious dental issues.
In all, the special event provided free dental care to more than 200 children from Lexington, Columbus, Crete, Grand Island, Hastings and York.
“I’m proud of the school. I’m proud of our students. This is an incredibly important day for us and the community," said Dentistry Dean Gerard Kugel, DMD, PhD.
As children arrived at the UNMC College of Dentistry, first-year dental students, some dressed as tooth fairies, greeted them with wide smiles.
March 28 was the college’s annual Children’s Dental Day, when nearly 300 UNMC dental, dental hygiene and nursing students provided free dental care to more than 200 children from throughout Nebraska, many of whom have little or no access to dental services.
Under the direction of faculty from the UNMC Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing, and with support of the college staff, the students cleaned teeth, filled cavities, addressed soreness and infections. They also worked hard to make the day a memorable and pleasant one for the children in their care.
UNMC held a Children's Dental Day on Friday, March 28, in Lincoln, serving more than 200 children from around Nebraska.
Hanna Hawks, a first-year dental student volunteer from Wichita, Kansas, said she was aware of the college’s Children’s Dental Day when she applied to the school.
She was excited to be taking part (although she was volunteering in a white coat, not a tooth fairy costume.)
“I love the way that this school focuses on giving back,” Hawks said.
Hawks said she and her fellow D1s were concentrating on providing a welcoming environment to help calm nervous kiddos.
“This is a great opportunity to help,” Hawks said. “Obviously, we're not giving treatments, but our job also is important, because we're managing the emotions of a lot of the kids and families. Serving in that way is really cool, because we can't in a lot of other ways – yet. In the next few years, we'll be getting to provide the treatments, too.”
Since 2001, more than 6,000 children have received treatment at Children’s Dental Day, and more than $3 million in dental services have been provided. Children are identified through school nurses and district health departments – this year’s small patients came from Lexington, Columbus, Crete, Grand Island, Hastings and York.
“This is something that many of the faculty are passionate about,” said Claire Koukol, DDS, assistant professor in the college’s department of growth and development and one of the faculty organizers of the event. “We see how important this is to the kids. We try to make it as positive an experience as possible, because we want them to be good dental patients as adults. And we also want them to not be in pain.”
Nearly 300 UNMC dental, dental hygiene and nursing students helped provided care to more than 200 children at the Children’s Dental Day.
Robin Johnson said her 8-year-old daughter Kaytlyn was excited to come from Hastings for the event, adding that the students seemed good at their job and were friendly.
Dental work at the event ranges from cleanings, restorations and extractions to pulpotomies, stainless steel crowns and root canal therapy. Children also participate in educational activities designed to increase their awareness of the importance of oral health.
Fourth-year dental student Nick Stolze said it was important for him, and his fellow students, to give back.
“Being able to give these kids treatment … it’s great to be able to do this,” he said. “It helps them a lot, and they usually have a good time.”
For more images from Children's Dental Day, visit this Flickr photo album.
Dentistry Dean Gerard Kugel, DMD, PhD, said he was awed by the efforts of the students and faculty, citing not only the Children's Dental Day in Lincoln, but a similar event in the western part of the state, the clinics for veterans, work with the school system and other volunteer outreach efforts by the college.
“There is so much need in this state,” Dr. Kugel said. “I’m proud of the school. I’m proud of our students. This is an incredibly important day for us and the community.”
Fourth-year dental hygiene student Gloria Larkin said she loved working the event.
“As hygienists, we have the opportunity to give these children positive experiences,” she said. “If we can make going to the dentist a little less scary, give them like a smiling face and a good experience – especially for kids who haven’t had that many dental experiences – that’s something we all love to do.”
This amazing. Great work and thank you for reaching out to those communities in need – in central Nebraska. Let me know how I can help in future events and possibly different communities.
-Cesar Godinez, UNMC Board of Counselors
What a great event. Congratulations to all who participated.