ATSU-ASDOH gives kids a reason to smile for the eighth year
Posted: February 18, 2013
To honor Children’s Dental Health Month, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) in partnership with Arizona Dental Foundation (ADF) hosted Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS) Day, where 364 pre-screened underserved Valley children received dental treatment free-of-charge.
For eight years, ATSU-ASDOH continued to host the largest GKAS® event in Arizona and has provided over $1 million in free care to children in the community.
ATSU-ASDOH students provided treatment under the supervision of more than 30 volunteer dentists to Mesa and Apache Junction elementary children and others in the Phoenix-area. GKAS was held on the Mesa campus from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. As needed, children received sealants, fillings, stainless steel crowns, pulp therapy (root canal, pulpotomy), and extractions.
“The students were so eager to make a difference,” said Arizona Dental Foundation Executive Director, Ginger Froncek . It has been amazing to watch young ATSU-ASDOH student volunteers move through their education and on to their own practices. When I run into them after graduation they share fond memories of GKAS with me.”
Initiatives like GKAS® strengthen the mission of ATSU in aspiring students to become high-quality, community-minded leaders.
Each year, approximately 450,000 children benefit from the efforts of more than 40,000 annual volunteers through GKAS®. The American Dental Association (ADA) began the GKAS® program in 2003 as a way for ADA members to join with others in the community to provide dental services to underserved children.