On the morning of Feb. 17 at Countryside Pediatric Dentistry in York, Nebraska, the opening notes of KPop Demon Hunter’s hit song “Golden” floated through the exam room as a young patient climbed into the dental chair, sneakers swinging.
“Am I going to get cool sunglasses?” the child asked.
Moments like that — when patients are relaxed, curious and unafraid — are exactly what event organizers hope to create at the UNMC College of Dentistry’s Children’s Dental Day events, an outreach initiative designed to expand access to dental care while helping children build positive early experiences with oral health.
Bailey Neville, DDS, hosted an event at her practice, Countryside Pediatric Dentistry, in partnership with Gail Rohlfing, DDS, interim chair of growth and development for the UNMC College of Dentistry. For this first event at Countryside in York, area schools helped identify students with dental needs who might otherwise struggle to access care, and 25 children received comprehensive care during the event.
“It’s really about families,” Dr. Rohlfing said. “Children are screened at their schools prior to the event, determining their needs. Treatment is provided free of charge in a safe, fun environment by well-qualified pediatric dental residents, and then they have a place to come back to if they need more treatment or follow-up care.”
Click Play below to watch a video from this Children’s Dental Day event.
Dr. Neville, a former UNMC resident, said bringing the program directly into the community removes a major barrier for families. “This is the first event like this,” she said. “There is much less of a transportation burden for the students and for the schools that are bringing them.”
The goal isn’t just a single day of treatment once a year, she said, but continuity. Organizers want each child to leave with what providers call a “dental home” – a familiar, comfortable place within the community for ongoing care, prevention and education.
“I am incredibly proud of Dr. Gail Rohlfing for her leadership in organizing Children’s Dental Day in York and for expanding this important initiative into communities across Nebraska,” said UNMC College of Dentistry Dean Gerard Kugel, DMD, PhD. “I also want to sincerely thank Dr. Bailey Neville for opening her beautiful practice and partnering with us to make this possible. Together with our outstanding pediatric residents and faculty, they created a day that not only delivered meaningful care, but helped children build positive, lasting relationships with oral health.”
Dr. Rohlfing, a UNMC College of Dentistry graduate and clinical instructor, said the event represented an evolution in the school’s outreach approach. Past events, held at the dental school clinic in Lincoln, focused on providing as much treatment as possible in a single day. While helpful, she said, that approach sometimes lacked long-term effectiveness.
“This gives kids the chance to receive high-quality dental care in a safe environment, while also establishing ongoing, comprehensive care,” she said.
That continuity is especially important because untreated dental problems can have lasting consequences, Dr. Neville said. “Many people assume baby teeth are temporary and don’t require treatment,” she said. “But cavities in baby teeth can increase the risk of decay later and may contribute to infections that affect overall health.”
Access challenges remain a significant issue in rural areas, where families may have fewer nearby providers and may need to travel long distances or take time off from work for appointments. By bringing care directly into the community, events like the Children’s Dental Day at Countryside help reduce those barriers and connect families with local providers.
In addition to serving patients, the event provided hands-on experience for dental residents, who worked alongside clinicians throughout the day.
Alexandra Bilunas, DDS, program director for the UNMC pediatric dental residency, said outreach programs like this benefit both learners and communities.
“Residents gain exposure to practice environments outside academic settings while serving populations that may not always have easy access to care. They also see what life can be like outside of residency and get to work with dental assistants and practice management.”
Second-year resident Jacob White, DMD, said he was grateful for the opportunity to participate. “There’s a great need for kids to get the dental care they deserve,” he said. “It’s fulfilling to give people a smile they’re proud of and will share with the world.”
Dr. Rohlfing said outreach events are a cornerstone of the UNMC College of Dentistry’s program and give residents a chance to serve communities while gaining experience.
Dr. Neville said she enjoys sharing her clinic for this event, because additional providers expand capacity. “With multiple residents assisting, we can see far more children than a single practitioner could alone.”
For Dr. Rohlfing, success is measured not only in the treatments provided but in long-term impact.
“We can always use more pediatric dentists in rural Nebraska,” she said. “If we spark an interest, it would be a wonderful way to continue the legacy.”
She plans to continue expanding partnerships with pediatric dental offices across Nebraska to host similar events, bringing care directly to communities.
“I’m so excited this program is going to be spread across Nebraska,” Dr. Neville said. “As pediatric dentists, if we all do our share, we can take care of a lot of kids.”
Back in the treatment room, the young patient with the sunglasses was smiling as the resident helped him hop down from the chair and choose a sticker — a small sign of a successful visit to the dentist.