Ann Arbor, MI — April 8, 2010 — A group of University of Michigan School of Dentistry dental students who traveled to Kenya earlier this year to provide oral health care and education will always remember their two-week visit to the Central African nation. Describing their experiences and sharing some of their photographs and videos, the five dental students recently told classmates they hope the Kenya Smiles initiative becomes a permanent part of the School’s outreach efforts.

With encouragement from School of Dentistry administrators, three U-M dental students launched Kenya Smiles in 2008 . The five dental students — Warren Woodruff, Ross Ryan, Ryan Hukill, Ryan Shinska, and Elizabeth Prast — went to the University of Nairobi to build on the success of that initiative. They were supervised by Dr. Kenneth May, associate professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences.

The dental students examined hundreds of children and adolescents at the Kikuyu Dental Clinic in Nairobi. They also traveled to villages five and six hours away to screen, place fillings, perform extractions, and demonstrate proper brushing techniques. In addition, May spoke to a local dental society and assisted the dental students in clinics. After a week of work, the group also took time off to enjoy a safari and do some hiking.

Although the School of Dentistry has sanctioned Kenya Smiles as an outreach experience, students who participate pay their own expenses and solicit funding from dental or other organizations in and around Ann Arbor.