UIC College of Dentistry Hosts Annual Give Kids A Smile Day

Nearly 100 children from St. Malachy School receive free dental care and education

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry hosted its annual Give Kids A Smile day, providing free comprehensive oral exams, teeth cleaning, sealants, oral health education, and dietary recommendations to nearly 100 children from St. Malachy School in Chicago's Near West Side. The event was part of a national initiative by the American Dental Association Foundation to raise awareness about the importance of oral health and address unmet dental needs among children.

Why it matters

Give Kids A Smile day reflects the UIC College of Dentistry's mission to serve the community and educate the next generation of dental professionals through hands-on, compassionate care. The event aims to establish a dental home for children who may struggle to access regular dental care, helping to improve their overall health and well-being.

The details

The event was led by a team of UIC dental faculty and staff, including Dr. Sahar Alrayyes, Dr. Majd Alsaleh, and Khatija Noorullah, with the full support of the pediatric dentistry department head, Dr. David Avenetti. Volunteers included UIC Pre-Dental Club students, third-year dental students, and pediatric dentistry residents. Children were entertained by costumed characters like Happy Molar, the Tooth Fairy, and Mr. Brush, who demonstrated good brushing habits. Sparky, the UIC Flames mascot, also made a special appearance.

  • The event took place on February 3, 2026.

The players

UIC College of Dentistry

The University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry, which hosted the annual Give Kids A Smile day event.

St. Malachy School

A school located in Chicago's Near West Side that sent nearly 100 children to participate in the event.

Dr. Sahar Alrayyes

A clinical professor in pediatric dentistry at the UIC College of Dentistry who helped lead the event.

Dr. Majd Alsaleh

A clinical assistant professor in pediatric dentistry and predoctoral program director at the UIC College of Dentistry who helped lead the event.

Khatija Noorullah

A clinical assistant professor in the department of population oral health at the UIC College of Dentistry who helped lead the event.

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What they’re saying

“Providing early access to oral health care is essential to a child's overall health and well-being. Events like Give Kids A Smile day reflect our mission to serve the community while educating the next generation of dental professionals through hands-on, compassionate care.”

— Dr. Susan Rowan, Dean of the UIC College of Dentistry (uic.edu)

“Many families struggle to find dental care, especially for young children. Through Give Kids A Smile, we hope to establish a dental home for the children who need us the most. Families are encouraged to return to the College of Dentistry for any treatment they need.”

— Dr. Sahar Alrayyes, Clinical Professor in Pediatric Dentistry (uic.edu)

“St. Malachy is deeply appreciative of this event. We are extremely grateful that our students have the opportunity to receive oral health care and oral health education. For some of our younger students, this is their first time seeing a dentist. UIC provides a welcoming and caring environment, and we truly look forward to this event each year.”

— Mary Mahoney, Volunteer at St. Malachy School and Co-Chair of the Health Initiative for Holy Cross Parish (uic.edu)

What’s next

The UIC College of Dentistry encourages families to return to the college for any additional dental treatment their children may need following the Give Kids A Smile event.

The takeaway

The UIC College of Dentistry's annual Give Kids A Smile day demonstrates its commitment to improving oral health and access to dental care for underserved children in the Chicago community, while also providing valuable hands-on learning opportunities for the next generation of dental professionals.