Erica Mathis, a fourth-year student in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry, has been inspired to become a dentist since she was 5 years old, after seeing the work of her father, who is also a dentist. She was one of many dental students providing free dental services to children during the college’s annual Give Kids a Smile Day on Monday.
“It’s just a joy to be able to see kids, hang out with them, and do some treatment for them,” Mathis said during the morning-long event at the UT Health Science Center’s Memphis Campus. “I love kids. I like to talk to them and make them feel comfortable, so that’s the main reason I’m here today.”
For a decade, the College of Dentistry has held its annual Give Kids a Smile Day, an event providing free dental services to school children from Memphis’ Freedom Preparatory Academy. The American Dental Association initiated Give Kids a Smile Day in 2003 to provide free oral health care to children through the assistance of volunteers.
Third- and fourth-year dental students and dental hygiene students performed the procedures under the supervision of faculty. The procedures included examinations, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and fluoride applications.
“I actually went to that high school (Freedom Prep) during the screening day for them and I met many kids,” said Hayden Rash, third-year dental student and president of the dentistry class of 2025. “The one I have today, I met and talked with. It’s cool to see them in their school and then to be able to come here and you’re able to help them after meeting them – and do it for free.”
Read more at our UTHSC news site.