Inaugural Give Seniors a Smile provides care to 110 elderly

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry provided more than $56,000 of free care to 110 seniors from the community during the inaugural Give Seniors a Smile on June 6.

Dental and dental hygiene students from the classes of 2026 and faculty, residents, and staff from the Advanced Education in Endodontics, Advanced Education in General Dentistry, General Practice Residency, Advanced Education in Prosthodontics, and Advanced Education in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery programs provided 545 treatments valued at $56,764.

“What began as an idea to honor and care for the seniors in our community became a reality through our inaugural Give Seniors a Smile event,” said Raha Naderi, RDH, MEd, assistant professor and director for community outreach at the School of Dentistry. “Watching our dental school open its doors to provide compassionate, free care to these incredible individuals was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. I’m deeply proud of our team for turning an idea into such an impactful event.”

With a focus on prevention, restorative care, and urgent care, seniors received exams, diagnostic imaging, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment, and oral hygiene instructions. In several necessary cases, patients received restorative treatments, endodontic treatments, and extractions.

Dental student Sergio Solis called it a privilege to provide care during Give Seniors a Smile.

“We always talk about our family here at the dental school. I think Give Seniors a Smile is a beautiful opportunity to showcase how we come together to provide charitable care to our seniors who may need it but aren’t able to get it for various reasons. Seniors are mentors and loved ones, and they could have sons, daughters, or possibly grandkids. It’s just nice for us to be there for them and to give back,” he said.

Give Seniors a Smile marked the first dental visit in years for many seniors.

Invited organizations included BakerRipley, Fifth Ward Baptist, KTSU Senior Health Services, MD Anderson Family YMCA, Meals on Wheels Montgomery County, and One Church at Bethel’s Family.

One senior grateful to receive dental care was Annie Lamott, 77, of Fifth Ward Baptist Church. Wearing a bright, multi-colored shirt and footwear with decorative charms, the retired postal worker of almost 37 years remains active in her church and in life. She finds joy in dancing as often as possible. From Line stepping and Chicago stepping to ballroom and swing dancing, she says she has to keep moving while she can.

Reflecting on what the care meant to her, Lamott was momentarily speechless.

“I can’t even think of the words. Awesome. Outstanding. Gorgeous. Amazing. Beautiful. It’s a tearjerker. It’s just wonderful. I’ve never received anything like it, and everybody here was so friendly and personable,” she said.

At the end of their visit, seniors received goodie bags containing a free toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, as well as information on healthy teeth and how to find a dental home at the School of Dentistry or a community clinic. Arrangements were also made for patients who required further treatment.

Of the 110 patients seen, 99 were identified as needing follow-up care. Referrals were made to the School of Dentistry for comprehensive care across multiple specialties, including general dentistry, endodontics, oral surgery, prosthodontics, and the student clinics.

“These referrals covered a wide range of treatment needs, such as partials, dentures, crowns, bridges, and root canals,” Naderi said. “Even among the patients who did not require additional restorative work, many will still be able to receive ongoing preventive care — specifically, six-month dental hygiene visits.”

The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and its affiliates, supported the event. The School of Dentistry also thanks Chick-fil-A and Jason’s Deli for their food donations.

MiPACS by Apryse provided backend provider support for Give Seniors a Smile. The dental imaging system created a centralized “charity care” digital environment for interoperability between the School of Dentistry’s first- and second-floor clinical spaces.

Representatives from the Area Agency on Aging and the Houston Food Bank were on-site to share resources and programs available to interested seniors.