Giving Kids a Smile

A young girl seated in a dental chair

For Marcus Troyer, Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) is a full-day outing for his family. His five-hour round-trip drive from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, is worth it when he witnesses his sons' eyes light up at the sight of Ohio Stadium and he sees all of his children receive good dental care.

Rebecca Troyer traveled to the event from Indiana with her father and two brothers.
Rebecca Troyer traveled to the event from
Indiana with her father and two brothers.

A "die-hard Buckeye fan," the self-employed father of five started visiting the dental clinics as a patient in 2011 when he still lived in Columbus. Cost conscious because he doesn't have dental insurance and because his family has experienced financial difficulties, Mr. Troyer is grateful to receive quality care for his children. He started bringing his children—now ranging in ages from three to 10—to GKAS five years ago. The trips continued even after the Troyer family relocated to a neighboring state. "I learned to trust the people here because of the quality of the work," he said.

For the student leaders who organize the event, Mr. Troyer's sentiments are gratifying. The hours of dedication and work it takes to put on the massive event is worthwhile when they know they're helping kids and families in need. During the February 8 event, dental and dental hygiene students, under faculty supervision, provided over $26,000 in free dental treatment to 90 children. "We believe instilling the importance of regular dental care at a young age is important. We are excited to give back to the children of our community by providing free dental care and promoting happy, healthy smiles," said GKAS President Ronit Majumdar '21 (DDS).

To view a video about the February 2020 College of Dentistry Give Kids A Smile event, visit go.osu.edu/gkas2020

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