Give Kids A Smile Ohio Kickoff at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry Provides Free Dental Care for Underserved Children
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University College of Dentistry will partner with the Ohio Dental Association on Saturday, January 31, to host the 2026 Give Kids A Smile Ohio kickoff event. Give Kids A Smile is a collaborative initiative of the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association and other state and component dental societies throughout the U.S. to provide dental care and oral health education to children without dental coverage.
Dental and dental hygiene students and dentist volunteers from the Ohio State College of Dentistry will provide free oral health care to underserved children from central Ohio and the greater Columbus area from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Parents can bring children without an appointment until 10 a.m. Services will include preventive care such as cleanings and fluoride treatments, as well as restorative care—such as fillings and extractions—when needed.
Since the program’s launch in 2003, more than 9.5 million children have received free oral health services through Give Kids A Smile. Each year, dentists and dental professionals throughout Ohio and the nation volunteer their time to provide screenings, treatments and oral health education to children. Over $15.5 million in donated care has been given to more than 335,000 children in Ohio since 2003. The Ohio State College of Dentistry has provided free dental care through Give Kids A Smile events since 2013.
