Dental and dental hygiene students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry had the privilege of providing free dental care to 373 underserved children from across Nebraska at the 2024 UNMC Children’s Dental Days events.
The first Children’s Dental Day took place at the college in Lincoln, Neb., on April 19. A total of 222 children from the region were bussed to the college to receive dental cleanings, restorations, extractions and other essential dental care. Over 400 volunteers made the day possible, including the UNMC students who provided care, as well as faculty, staff and alumni who offered support.
“My dentist was so nice and did a good job taking care of my smile and teaching me how to take care of my teeth,” said Hector, a sixth grader from Lexington.
The goal of the second Children’s Dental Day was to reach underserved children in rural Nebraska areas. A total of 40 UNMC student, faculty and staff volunteers traveled over 800 miles from Lincoln to Sidney and Gordon, Neb., on May 31. They provided care to 151 children from across western Nebraska, including extractions, restorations and other vital dental care.
The college partners with public health departments, school nurses and local dentists to make the Children’s Dental Day events possible, including LifeSmiles of Sidney, Gordon Memorial Hospital and the Nebraska Panhandle Public Health District.
“Many families in our area encounter barriers to accessing vital dental care,” said Janelle Visser, an injury prevention coordinator for the Panhandle Public Health District.
“Children’s Dental Day addresses a crucial need; for many of the children, it is their first visit to a dentist. We are grateful to the UNMC College of Dentistry for providing the care these children need,” she said.
UNMC dental and dental hygiene students benefit from Children’s Dental Days just as much as the patients.
“I had an incredibly rewarding experience; I improved my skills related to treating children while learning more about health disparities in Nebraska,” said Delaney Glazier, a third-year dental student.
“This experience has better prepared me to treat underserved populations and has made me a better oral health care provider,” she said.
Since 2001, the UNMC College of Dentistry has held 41 Children’s Dental Days in Lincoln and western Nebraska, treating more than 6,000 children and providing more than $3 million in dental services to underserved children.
During the 2024 Children’s Dental Day events, the total value of the free care provided was $201,952, and 1,718 procedures were performed.
“Children’s Dental Days offer rewarding learning experiences for our students and help them understand the importance of giving back to their communities,” said Maddison McConnaughhay, DDS, an assistant professor at the UNMC College of Dentistry.
“When speaking with alumni, many of them recall Dental Days as one of their favorite experiences as dental students, which is a testament to how special these events are for everyone involved,” she said.