PITTSBURGH, PA — TeamSmile, a Kansas-based nonprofit dedicated to providing free dental care for children, made its latest stop at PNC Park last week. The organization, which partners with sports teams across the country, offered vital dental services to nearly 250 students from schools throughout the Pittsburgh area.
Local dentists volunteered their time to deliver both preventive and restorative care. They were supported by over 100 community volunteers who helped manage the event.
Pittsburgh marked one of 35 cities scheduled to host a TeamSmile event in 2025. According to Executive Director John McCarthy, the group expects to serve approximately 6,000 children this year through these clinics.
TeamSmile was founded in Kansas City in 2007 by Dr. Bill Bush, following the tragic death of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver. Driver died after a tooth infection, left untreated due to financial hardship, spread to his brain. The boy’s single mother could not afford the dental treatment he needed.
“[Bush] asked, ‘How does this happen in America? We’re supposed to be the richest country in the world,’” McCarthy said. “Driver just needed a simple extraction. He would have been fine.”
Inspired to make a change, Bush turned to a familiar cornerstone of American life: sports. After discussions with the Kansas City Chiefs, he secured Arrowhead Stadium as the venue for the first TeamSmile event. He then enlisted help from fellow dentists and raised funds and equipment to bring the vision to life.
“The Chiefs share a parking lot with the Kansas City Royals,” McCarthy added. “When people with the Royals heard about it, they said, ‘That’s pretty cool. Can you do that here?’ One program became two. Two became four.”
Today, TeamSmile hosts events in cities across the nation, partnering with both amateur and professional sports teams. The teams lend their facilities, creating a welcoming environment where dental care becomes more accessible—and fun—for kids.
Each TeamSmile clinic follows a well-structured process. Children first complete paperwork and receive a pre-rinse treatment. They are then escorted to dental stations for examinations and x-rays. Based on their dental needs, they either receive routine care or treatment such as cavity fillings or extractions.
To reduce anxiety, the events are filled with entertainment. Children are distracted by cartoons, face painting, mascots, and a live DJ as they wait their turn. Behind the scenes, volunteers prepare and sanitize equipment to keep the operation moving smoothly.
“It’s a well-oiled machine,” McCarthy said. “Efficiency is critical. Without it, we couldn’t deliver care on this scale.”
With each event, TeamSmile aims to address a critical need: ensuring that no child suffers due to lack of access to basic dental care. Through its innovative model and community partnerships, the nonprofit continues to expand its reach—one city, one team, and one child at a time.
