“It was fun participating last year, so I’m back again this year. The kids are great. And it’s a way for me to give something back to the community,” said second-year dental student Crystal Rosser as she talked about her reasons for participating in the annual Give Kids a Smile program.

Rosser and other dental and dental hygiene students, along with faculty, residents, and staff from the U-M School of Dentistry participated in the February 6 event. The local effort was part of the American Dental Association’s annual nationwide program. Joining School of Dentistry volunteers were oral health care professionals from the Washtenaw District Dental Society and local dental offices.

Rosser’s sentiments were echoed by her classmates, including dental student Luke Daining.

“As a second-year student, I can do more for the kids than I could last year, and that’s rewarding,” he said. “During spring break, I’ll be going to Honduras with some other dental students to provide oral health care, so what I’m doing here today gives me more opportunities to develop my skills,” he added.

Sixty-seven children between the ages of 5 and 12 received free oral health care services, including exams. Forty sealants were placed on teeth for 13 children. Thirty-eight children received fluoride treatments. Thirty-two had radiographs taken. Fourteen extractions were performed. Seventeen children will return to the School’s pediatric dental clinic for further examination and treatment.

Krause: Keys to Success – Planning, Delegating, Teamwork

“I was very happy we were able to provide treatment opportunities for 67 children who otherwise may not have had access to dental care,” said third-year dental student Meggan Krause who organized both this year’s and last year’s Give Kids a Smile program at the School of Dentistry.

Planning for the event began last fall. “I had help this year from my co-organizer, Abbie Walker (D3), and a small committee of interested underclassmen who also wanted to take on lead roles next year,” Krause said.

“The biggest challenge was finding time to make all the phone calls, keep up with numerous daily e-mails about the event, and making sure everyone was on the same page,” she said. Krause said she “learned a lot about setting deadlines and delegating.” That was a major reason, she said, there were no surprises and “allowed me to sleep well Friday night before the event.”

When asked how she found time for her studies, coordinating the February program, and other tasks, said, “I don’t know. I tend to say ‘yes’ a lot and take on roles in organizations I’m involved in. Yet, somehow I manage to pull through while still keeping up with my studies and patient management.”

After earning her dental degree next year, Krause hopes to enter a pediatric dentistry residency program.