AzDA Cares Foundation - Give Kids A Smile

Launched nationally in 2003, Give Kids A Smile is part of a national initiative by the American Dental Association Foundation. AzDA Cares organizes and facilitates the Give Kids A Smile program in Arizona, one of the longest running in the nation. Over the last 15 years, we have provided more than $7 million worth of free dental care to Arizona youth and have served 20,000 children attending Title I schools. Each year, we hold events at college and university partner sites serving Phoenix metro residents. At these events, volunteer dental students, dental professionals, and community members collaborate to deliver free services to youth who would not otherwise have access to dental care. The average value of services provided to each child is $450, and may include cleanings, screenings, fluoride treatments, and/or more involved treatments, such as restorative care.

In 2025, AzDA Cares will expand Give Kids a Smile statewide, with a focus on reaching youth from families with limited financial resources in rural and underserved areas. Our goal is to hold up to 10 Give Kids a Smile events across Arizona in 2025, providing essential oral healthcare to approximately 1,000 children and youth ages 5-18. About their experience and the impact of Give Kids a Smile, participating families have said:

“We are grateful for this. We do not qualify for AHCCCS. We have four children and cannot afford to have all the work done that they need.”

“We enjoy coming because the [dental] students make this fun for our kid. She is not afraid of coming to get her teeth cleaned.”