Give Kids a Smile: Promoting the importance of early dental care

The annual Give Kids a Smile clinic at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry is a student-run community service clinic that provides free dental exams, basic dental procedures and the opportunity to educate kids about the importance of brushing, flossing and going to the dentist regularly. The Give Kids a Smile community service event was started nationally by the American Dental Association in 2003 and is supported locally by the Michigan Dental Association and the Washtenaw District Dental Society. The clinic, known as GKAS for short, is an important part of the dental students’ education. Treating children whose mouths are still growing, and whose teeth are still emerging, requires a different focus than treating adults. In addition, children are often uncomfortable or afraid of dentists and their instruments, so students have to try out different ways of coaxing the kids to relax, open wide and be treated. Read more about the 2023 Give Kids a Smile event here: https://news.dent.umich.edu/2023/04/06/schools-annual-free-clinic-for-kids-promotes-importance-of-early-dental-care/