A superhero and an NFL star: Give Kids a Smile Day 2026

Fifty-five elementary school children filling the fourth floor of The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University. A dental hygiene student dressed as ‘Super Tooth’ – her cape flowing as she goes from kid to kid, easing their nerves. A Super Bowl champion serving as a mentor and role model. All of this went into making DCG’s Give Kids a Smile Day 2026 not only a successful but memorable day for all involved.

This is college’s 23rd year affiliated with the event, paying homage to February being National Children’s Dental Health Month.

“Every year, we reach out to various schools – this is Lamar Milledge Elementary’s second year in a row coming to the event. We try to pick schools from underprivileged areas for students to come in and to have free cleanings, free sealants and free fluoride treatments,” said Kandyce A’see, EdD, professor and senior clinical coordinator in DCG’s Dental Hygiene Department. “Give Kids a Smile is a national program that celebrates on the first Friday in February, so dental schools all over the nation are giving free treatments today.”

More than 300,000 children nationwide who have limited access to health care receive free dental treatments each year through the American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile program.

Students and instructors in the Dental Hygiene Department performed cleanings while residents and dentists in the Pediatric Dentistry Department performed extractions, fillings and restorative treatments on the second floor.

Former NFL safety and Augusta native Deon Grant joined the event with his nonprofit organization, the G.R.A.N.T. Foundation, to spread an empowering message to the kids: “Be kind to your teeth and others.”

“It’s all about taking care of your teeth and being against bullying. When Dr. A’see, who’s a great friend of mine, reached out to me and explained what they were doing, I was happy to jump on board because my foundation is all about not only protecting kids, but making sure they’re taking care of their bodies,” he said.

The G.R.A.N.T. Foundation, which stands for Greatness Requires All Necessary Tools, is focused on giving back to underprivileged youth by providing them with resources, education, mentorship and opportunities to help them be the best version of themselves. As someone who grew up in the area, Grant said he sees a lot of himself in the children he serves, and he wants them to have the same opportunities he had.

“I grew up in an underprivileged community and dental insurance was something that my mom probably couldn’t pay for. So, the fact that they get this once a year is huge because it’s something that they probably didn’t even know is important,” Grant said. “They can come and get their teeth taken care of and also educate other kids about the importance of it.”

Education goes a long way when explaining to children how necessary it is to have good oral hygiene. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 46% of children in the U.S. have tooth decay, making it the most common chronic disease in children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also claims that children from low-income households are twice as likely to have cavities compared to children from higher-income households. 

“Oral health affects the whole body. So if kids miss school from tooth pain, or if they can’t concentrate because they have tooth pain, it affects their studies and their work. We want them to be not only confident, but be healthy and able to sleep well, go to school, do their work well and learn,” A’see said. “It’s the number one disease in children, but it’s also one of the top reasons they’re absent in school.”

The kids were brought back to the clinic area in groups, and once they sat in their exam chairs, they were met with an abso-tooth-ly good time thanks to third-year dental hygiene student Autumn Zorn, better known as the superhero ‘Super Tooth,’ who was there to “save the day from tooth decay!”

“It’s been so fun. It’s great to talk to the kids and have them show me how they’re brushing their teeth, helping them with their technique and also asking them a couple of questions about how they take care of their teeth at home,” Zorn said. “Just being in a silly costume, making it not so serious and more welcoming and fun can make the experience a little less scary for them.”

Having Grant there was also a way to boost the kids’ confidence and show them that even football players have to brush their teeth.

“I went back and a kid was scared, and when they introduced me and told him who I was, he got super excited. I told him I went through the same thing and that I was jealous I couldn’t get my teeth cleaned at that moment,” Grant said. “And then he had all smiles and his fear went away. That’s what brings excitement to me – just seeing kids lose their fear of something that’s going to bring a positive result at the end, that’s what brings me joy.”

In addition to the cleanings, the kids were sent home with oral hygiene instructions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, coloring sheets and an information page for parents.

Lamar Milledge student ZyAsia Anderson said her experience was better than she thought it would be and hopes she gets to come back next year.

“The girl who did my teeth was really gentle, she didn’t rush into it, she told me everything she was gonna use, she asked me questions and she was very nice,” she said.

As the day was winding down and the kids were getting ready to head back to school, it wasn’t just them who had smiles on their faces – everyone involved in the planning and execution of the event was smiling ear-to-ear after a job well done.