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Bright Smiles and Big Hearts: Dugoni School Hosts Give Kids a Smile Event
On March 1, the Give Kids a Smile dental health fair brought joy and essential dental care to children at the Dugoni School of Dentistry’s Hutto Patterson Pediatric Dentistry Clinic in downtown San Francisco. The event provided free dental check-ups, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and more to kids up to age 17.
With a superhero theme and engaging activities—including educational games, a petting zoo, face painting, ballon art and prizes—the event created a welcoming and fun atmosphere, helping children feel at ease during their dental visits.
Volunteers from the Pediatric Dentistry Study Club, the Student Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) organization, and faculty and staff from the Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Departments worked together to provide much-needed care. In total, the event served nearly 160 children and delivered an estimated $35,000 in donated dental services.
Dr. Rinku Saini, chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, expressed pride in the team’s efforts, saying “I’m incredibly proud of our pediatric team, our amazing Dugoni students, and all the faculty and staff who came together to make Give Kids a Smile such a success. Seeing the smiling faces of children receiving care in our Hutto Patterson Pediatric Dentistry Clinic was especially moving.”
“Knowing that we were able to provide essential care and support to families who might not otherwise have access to these services is a powerful example of the Dugoni spirit in action,” he added.
The Dugoni School has hosted Give Kids a Smile events regularly each year as part of a national initiative launched by the American Dental Association 23 years ago. This year’s event continued that tradition, bringing both care and joy to children in need—one bright smile at a time.
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