MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry provided free dental care to more than 100 students on Wednesday as part of its annual Give Kids A Smile Day.
Middle and high school students from Freedom Preparatory Academy and Soulsville Charter School received a range of dental services, including exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, extractions, and fluoride treatments. The event is part of a national initiative to offer free oral healthcare to underserved children, a mission UTHSC has supported since 2003.
Daelin Brown, an eighth-grade student at Soulsville Charter School, shared his excitement after receiving treatment.
“I’m very excited about getting my teeth cleaned and treated,” Brown said. “I got X-rays today, and I’m sure everyone else is too. It’s a great experience.”
Freedom Preparatory Academy has partnered with UTHSC for a decade to bring dental care to its students. Natasha Jean-Louis, a representative of the school, emphasized the importance of healthcare access in achieving lifelong success.
“Our community outreach team felt this was a great way to support our students,” Jean-Louis said. “Our mission is to prepare them for college and life—and access to healthcare is part of that life piece.”
Ken Tilashalski, Dean of the UT College of Dentistry, stressed the strong connection between oral health and overall well-being.
“Oral health affects your quality of life,” Tilashalski said. “There’s a clear link between dental health and systemic health.
When dental care is neglected, it can impact a person in many ways.”
Untreated dental issues can contribute to serious medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and respiratory problems, according to health experts.
