The Dental College of Georgia gives local children a reason to smile

Students and faculty from The Dental College of Georgia and College of Allied Health Sciences at Augusta University provided free dental care for nearly 125 local children at the university’s annual “Give Kids A Smile” event on Friday, Feb. 5.

Part of a national initiative to offer free oral health screenings and treatments to underserved children, the American Dental Association launched the “Give Kids A Smile” program in 2003. Since then, the program has provided more than 5 million children with free oral health care.

More than 100 students and a dozen faculty members and residents volunteered to provide cleanings, sealants and restorative dental work to children screened from Rollins Elementary School, Heritage Academy, New Holland Mennonite School and the university’s health Grandparents program, among others.