At the Indiana University School of Dentistry, we’re invested in our community. Our outreach work in Indianapolis and across the state brings positive change to people who use our services, while at the same time enhancing the educational experience for our students.
Changing lives through oral health care
Through outreach programs offered by the School of Dentistry’s Office for Civic Engagement, our students and faculty:
- Develop civic responsibility, health policy skills and activism, and intercultural respect and understanding
- Partner with communities through both curricular and cocurricular activities
- Take part in the school’s intercultural and international dental education program
- Partner with dental clinics in federally qualified or community health centers to provide community-based clinical dental education
- Participate in interdisciplinary education, teaching, and research that is community engaged and has mutually beneficial goals
What we do
While our outreach programs may vary from year to year, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are always doing good work for our community. Here’s just a sampling of some of the programs we’ve offered.
Amish Community Dental Clinic
Since 1996, we have increased access to dental care and education by making monthly trips to rural northern Indiana to provide dental services to children at an Amish community clinic.
Healthy Smiles for Employability (HSE)
An extension of the Student Outreach Clinic, HSE provides full or partial dentures at no cost to local low-income and uninsured adults.
Indiana Fluoride Rinse Program
We partner with Indiana elementary schools to provide children with fluoride treatments that help prevent cavities.
SEAL Indiana
We use portable equipment to provide preventive oral health services such as exams, dental sealants, and fluoride treatments for children who do not have adequate access to dental care.
Shelter Sealant Program
We provide oral health care services for children housed in area shelters for the homeless and for victims of domestic violence.
Special Smiles
We provide oral screening, counseling, referral, and mouth guards at the Special Olympics Indiana State Games as part of the Healthy Athletes program.
Student Outreach Clinic
Students volunteer twice a month to treat underserved adults in Indianapolis at the clinic, which has been recognized by the ADA Foundation as an exemplary volunteer community service project.
Learn about the clinicVeterans’ Employability: The Dental Connection
In partnership with the Hoosier Veterans’ Assistance Foundation, this program serves homeless veterans who need front teeth to improve their job prospects.