School of Dentistry, UT Dentists lead back-to-school outreach across Houston

As Houston families prepared for the upcoming school year, UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry and UT Dentists played a leading role in back-to-school outreach, partnering with community organizations to provide free oral health services and resources at nine events across the Greater Houston area.

Volunteer teams of students, staff, faculty from the dental school and UT Dentists delivered dental screenings, fluoride varnish applications, oral hygiene education, and nutritional counseling at no cost. They also distributed toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and other supplies to help families maintain healthy habits throughout the year.

“It’s been incredible to see our School of Dentistry community come together to support families across Houston,” said Raha Naderi, RDH, MEd, director of community outreach. “These events are a powerful reminder of how education, compassion, and collaboration can make a lasting impact.”

While all nine events made an impact, three stood out as major collaborations between the School of Dentistry and UT Dentists:

• HOPE Clinic Back to School Event (July 26): Held at HOPE Alief, this annual fair brought together community partners to support families with food distribution, school supplies, and health screenings.
• Alief Community Health and Resources Fair (Aug. 2): Hosted at the Alief ISD Center for Talent Development, the fair welcomed hundreds of families for health services and giveaways.
• UT Physicians’ Start the School Year Healthy Event (Aug. 16): At the International District clinic, dental screenings were provided to families attending well-child appointments. Children also received backpacks filled with school supplies, reinforcing the link between routine care and academic success.

In addition to these collaborations, the School of Dentistry also supported six other back-to-school events across Houston, including the Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church Back to School and Resource Fair (July 12); the Christopher Pichon II Foundation Community Health Fair (July 26); the CHRISTUS Back to School Health Fair at St. Austin Center (Aug. 2); the Community Resources Fair (Aug. 2); City Church Houston’s Back to School Event (Aug. 3); and the HISD Back to School Bash (Aug. 9).

Across all events, more than 600 adults and children received free screenings, helping raise awareness about the importance of oral health and empowering families with knowledge and resources.

“Giving back to the community is not just a part of our mission, it’s a privilege and a responsibility that we embrace wholeheartedly,” Naderi said. “We look forward to continuing this work and strengthening our role as partners in community health.”