Delta Dental of Oklahoma (DDOK) and the Oklahoma City Thunder, in partnership with TeamSmile, hosted the inaugural Full Court Smiles event, a free dental clinic providing 259 local third and fourth graders with $82,315 in essential oral health care at no cost to schools, students or their families.

Hosted at the Paycom Center on September 18, the event offered preregistered students from participating Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) with dental screenings, treatment and education in a fun, welcoming environment.

“Good dental health plays an important role in a child’s overall wellbeing and ability to succeed in school and beyond,” said John Gladden, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Oklahoma. “Through Full Court Smiles, we’re removing barriers to care and helping Oklahoma kids build healthy habits that can last a lifetime.”

Beyond the clinic, students enjoyed face painting, music, Thunder entertainers, the Rolling Thunder Book Bus presented by American Fidelity, mascot appearances from Rumble the Bison and Captain Supertooth, and more.

“Full Court Smiles shows the power of partnerships and what we can accomplish when we come together for our community,” said Will Syring, vice president of Corporate Partnerships for the Oklahoma City Thunder. “We’re proud to partner with Delta Dental of Oklahoma to connect local students with essential dental care and education in a fun, welcoming environment.”

A team of dedicated dental professional volunteers helped make the event possible, with the largest contingent coming from the OU College of Dentistry.

“Some kids don’t have regular access to dental care, so bringing them to clinics like this and providing them with treatment is really important,” said Maddie Coley, a dental hygienist who volunteered at Full Court Smiles. “It’s really rewarding to help kids with their smiles.”

Full Court Smiles was hosted in partnership with TeamSmile, a national organization that merges the worlds of professional sports and oral health by hosting dental events at sports stadiums and arenas.

To learn more about the different ways Delta Dental of Oklahoma and our Foundation support youth oral health, visit DDOKFoundation.org.