In 2007 the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the first TeamSmile one-day outreach event in which dental volunteers provided dental care at Arrowhead Stadium. More than 100 hundred children were screened, treated and educated on the importance of oral health that day. UMKC School of Dentistry student and faculty volunteers were there to lend a hand, and they are still helping 10 years later. Today TeamSmile’s outreach and UMKC’s participation have expanded to include events with the Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.

“In preparation for the inaugural event in 2007, Dr. Bill Bush, a TeamSmile cofounder, contacted me to see if the School of Dentistry had any portable dental equipment that he could borrow,” recalls Dr. Michael McCunniff, director of the School’s outreach programs. “Not only did we provide them with equipment, we also supplied student and faculty volunteers. TeamSmile continues to provide a unique opportunity for our students and faculty to give back to the community by delivering care to children who otherwise might not have access to dental education and care. Just as important, our dental students experience firsthand how to personally and organizationally think ‘outside the box’ in order to meet the dental needs of vulnerable populations. At each event, I challenge every student to come up with their own ideas on how to give back to their community and make a difference once they are in practice.”

Since its inception, TeamSmile has evolved from an event-driven concept to a formal nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of professional sports teams to draw at-risk children into their first contact with dental care. TeamSmile now partners with a total of 20 professional sports teams from coast to coast.