A 78-year-old Oromo-speaking patient arrived at the Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic in severe pain. Through Smiles for Seniors—a partnership between the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics and the free clinic—she received an extraction and was scheduled to return for additional treatment.
At a follow-up appointment, the dental team stopped treatment when her blood pressure and heart rate rose sharply. They discovered she had misunderstood her medications and missed follow-up care. Clinic staff connected her with an on-site nurse, and when she returned several weeks later, her health was stable and the dental team completed treatment.
For Rohit Nair, clinical associate professor of preventive and community dentistry at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, the experience demonstrated what becomes possible when organizations work together around a patient’s needs.
Smiles for Seniors brings University of Iowa dental students, residents, faculty, and staff to Iowa City’s free clinic for student-led, faculty-supervised evening clinics. The initiative serves older adults facing financial and other barriers to dental care.
“Our core missions align seamlessly: The College of Dentistry exists to educate the future workforce, and the Free Medical and Dental Clinic exists to serve those in need,” says Nair, “That synergy propels every student-led activity we undertake at the clinic.”
“Without insurance, dental expenses can be prohibitive for people living on fixed incomes,” says Jennie Schmidt, executive director of the Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic. “Many postpone treatment while paying for housing, food, prescriptions, and other necessities. Minor issues like cavities often progress into severe infections, advanced gum disease, or tooth loss before the individual seeks help.”
The College of Dentistry and the free clinic have worked together for about three decades, adapting their approach as community needs and available resources have changed.
After COVID-19 disrupted student participation at the free clinic, the clinic relied on a staff dentist to address a growing demand. When that model began winding down, a grant opportunity from the Community Foundation of Johnson County gave the College of Dentistry and the free clinic a chance to bring students back in a new way.
Smiles for Seniors served patients from September 2025 through April 2026 with the foundation’s grant providing crucial funding for student stipends, staff wages, and operational costs.
During eight monthly, three-hour evening clinics, the team provided 24 patient visits for 16 adults ages 65 to 82. Care included examinations, radiographs, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and referrals. The services were valued at approximately $9,500.
Seven third- and fourth-year dental students participated alongside a resident in geriatric and special needs dentistry. Nair supervised the care, while dental assistants, and a dental coordinator helped the sessions run and guided patients through their treatment plans.
“What began as a cold email call for volunteers turned into compassionate trainee providers showing up for older adults in our community,” says Nair.
Students were matched with treatment appropriate to their experience, while the resident handled more complex cases. Students also learned to communicate across language and health literacy barriers, adapt to limited equipment, and recognize how social and economic conditions influence a patient’s health.
"It was rewarding being able to practice dentistry outside the College of Dentistry setting, with a different population of people receiving care," says fourth-year dental student Lily Weise, "I think the volunteer model works well as a handful of like-minded students are always searching out opportunities like this to immerse ourselves in the community and work in a different setting.
“Those experiences provide clinical knowledge that can be difficult to replicate in a traditional setting,” says Schmidt. “I am most impressed by their enthusiasm, commitment, sense of care, and dedication to our patients.”
For the free clinic, the partnership also increases capacity amid a shortage of available dental providers. Schmidt added that many patients likely would not have received care without the college’s involvement.
“Our core missions align seamlessly: The College of Dentistry exists to educate the future workforce, and the Free Medical and Dental Clinic exists to serve those in need,” says Nair, “That synergy propels every student-led activity we undertake at the clinic.”
Funding has been renewed for a second year, allowing the partners to continue the evening sessions. The renewal also gives them another opportunity to test a model that combines student involvement, faculty mentorship, community resources, and local philanthropic support.
“For every older adult we serve, many more still face significant barriers to care,” Nair says, “Our students have risen to the challenge, and we have established a model that can be adapted to serve other underserved populations.”
