OU Helps Deliver Over $82,000 in Free Dental Care During Full Court Smiles

For 259 third- and fourth-graders from Oklahoma City Public Schools, a trip to the Paycom Center recently came with something more than a chance to see the home of the Oklahoma City Thunder. During the inaugural Full Court Smiles event, the students received $82,315 in free dental care from faculty, residents and students from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and other dental professionals.

Full Court Smiles was hosted by Delta Dental of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City Thunder, in partnership with TeamSmile, a national organization that merges the worlds of professional sports and oral health by hosting dental events at sports stadiums and arenas.

“It was a great opportunity to engage with kids in the community and to provide a positive dental experience for them,” said first-year pediatric dentistry resident Catherine Raggio, D.D.S. “For some of them, it was their first time seeing a dentist. It was a cool way to provide a friendly face, dental care and dental education.”

Dental professionals provided a variety of care, from cleanings and fluoride applications to crowns and pulpotomies (partial root canals). Beyond the clinic, students enjoyed face painting, music, Thunder entertainers, the Rolling Thunder Book Bus presented by American Fidelity, mascot appearances from Rumble the Bison and Captain Supertooth, and more. If students felt uneasy during their treatment, they were often reassured by the knowledge that they would get to play games or dance with the Thunder entertainers afterward.

“Events like this are important because they provide treatment and raise awareness about oral health, and they also teach our residents and students what it means to serve your community,” said David Ciesla, D.D.S., program director for the college’s Pediatric Dentistry Residency. “It’s not just about what dental providers do in their own practice; it’s about what they do in their own communities.”

For some students, the clinic provided dental care they might otherwise have difficulty accessing. Because the event took place during the school day, students could receive treatment without their parents having to take time off work to take them to an appointment.

For OU College of Dentistry providers, the event offered a reminder that serving patients sometimes means stepping outside the traditional dental office.

“Oftentimes we’re in our individual offices seeing the patients who come to us, but this event allowed us to take the care to our patients,” said second-year pediatric residency resident Katie Kap, D.D.S. “It reminded us of the importance of reaching outside the walls of our offices.”