Give Kids A Smile
Give Kids a Smile® Event Delivers Care to 120 Elementary Students at Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic
February is National Children's Dental Health Month
Local elementary school children were grinning ear to ear on Friday, Feb. 21, as the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic hosted its fourth annual Give Kids a Smile® event.
Over 120 students were offered free dental services and oral health education to understand the importance of preventive care. The initiative was sponsored by the El Paso Dental Society and cobranded with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation. Michael Kelly, Ph.D., vice president of Programs for the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, attended the event.
Hunt School of Dental Medicine student providers, faculty and volunteers worked together to treat Tinajero PK-8, Zavala Elementary, and Cooley Elementary students. Under faculty supervision, students performed basic dental services, and children participated in interactive educational activities such as Revealing the Sugar Bugs, How to Brush Properly, and Making Healthy Food Choices.
Ten-year-old Zoe Marin-Dill, a third grader from Tinajero PK-8, attended the Oral Health Clinic for the second time.
“I was a little anxious my first time because I didn’t know what to expect,” she admitted.
Now more confident, Zoe encourages other children not to be afraid.
“I’d tell them don’t be scared—it’s fun,” she said. “I’ve learned to brush my teeth twice a day for two minutes and not to eat too much candy because it can cause cavities.”
El Pasoan Andrew Olivas, a fourth-year dental student, values the opportunity to participate in Give Kids a Smile® and similar dental events. He’s proud to provide care and education to children in our Borderplex community.
"We've been doing this since we started the school, so we've had many of the same students come back, and we're excited about it,” said Olivas, who will graduate this May as part of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine’s inaugural class. “A lot of them don't have access to dental care.”
The event held special significance for Texas Tech Health El Paso, as both the university and the participating schools are located within the 79905 ZIP code neighborhood—an area the university is deeply committed to serving. The NIH reports that studies show that over 51 million hours of classroom time are lost annually in U.S. schools due to preventable oral health conditions, with underserved communities along the U.S.-Mexico border facing the greatest impact.
The Give Kids A Smile® program, launched nationally in 2003, provides underserved children with free oral health care. Each year, around 6,500 dentists and 30,000 dental team members volunteer at Give Kids A Smile® events to offer education, screenings, and preventive and restorative treatments to over 300,000 children. Held during National Children’s Dental Health Month, the program ensures access to essential dental services, including cleanings, exams, and necessary treatments, for children lacking regular care.
"Ensuring children have access to quality dental care and education is essential to their overall health and well-being. The Paso del Norte Health Foundation is proud to support Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic and the El Paso Dental Society in their efforts to provide preventive care and promote healthy smiles for our community’s youth. Events like Give Kids a Smile make a lasting impact by fostering good oral health habits early in life," said Dr. Michael Kelly, Vice President of Programs for the Paso del Norte Health Foundation.
The Hunt School of Dental Medicine students aim to give back to the Borderplex community in events like these. As they continue to help the community, they develop a sense of purpose and empathy that will enhance their future as dental health care providers.
The school’s rigorous curriculum uniquely integrates clinical experience from the first year. Students quickly dive into interprofessional collaboration, patient-centered care, and community outreach to prepare students for real-world dental practice.
About the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic
To improve access to oral health care in the community, the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic offers reduced-cost dental care in its 38,000-square-foot facility. The clinic is equipped with 145 treatment chairs where students work with faculty providers to deliver high-quality oral health care to Borderplex residents. Providers at the Oral Health Clinic specialize in high-tech, same-day dentistry for patients. With a full complement of 221 students spanning four dental classes, Hunt School of Dental Medicine students are poised to provide nearly 60,000 clinical hours of care annually.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.