Planet Smilez program gives students hands-on dental career experience

This story is part of a series on the challenges and solutions related to oral health in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. It is made possible with funding support from the Delta Dental Foundation.

For a day, a group of high school students had the opportunity to step into the world of dentistry and visualize a future in the field.

Planet Smilez runs hands-on pathway programs designed to introduce middle and high school students to careers in oral health. With support from the Delta Dental Foundation, the organization hosted a “Discovering Dentistry Symposium” on April 18 at the Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis.

The program prioritizes reaching students from economically and educationally underserved backgrounds in dental health professional shortage areas.

Students learned about the range of careers in the field — not only dentists, but dental hygienists, assistants, and other roles that support patient care.

More than 55 students participated in the event, part of a broader effort to address shortages in oral health care by introducing students to the field early. Organizers say additional programs are planned, including sessions at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and Northern Michigan University.

The day began with a simulated white coat ceremony, a milestone ritual in dental education.

“We know how special that day is,” says Dr. Angela Yepes, director of the predoctoral program in pediatric dentistry at Indiana University School of Dentistry. “This ceremony made them feel as special as we felt.”

Experiencing the work

After the ceremony, students moved into hands-on activities that mirrored a working clinic. At one station, they examined tooth models, learning how to identify decay and rebuild cavity-affected tooth surfaces. At another, they learned about preventive steps to protect oral health and how to do a dental cleaning and place dental sealants. Nearby, students worked through a dental trauma scenario, deciding how to respond if a patient lost a tooth.

“They get to learn how to do a filling, place dental sealants, and manage dental trauma. It’s a really hands-on day,” says Dr. Kathryn Pawlak, a pediatric dentist and founder of Planet Smilez, who trained at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and now splits her time between clinical practice and expanding the nonprofit. “Students get a chance to experience firsthand what a day in the life of an oral health professional entails.”

Pawlak launched the program while she was a pre-dental student. She says the idea grew out of personal experience.

“My family didn’t have access to dental care,” Pawlak says. “I saw how the lack of dental education affected their lives long term.”

Later, while in dental school, she helped develop a weeklong “Discovering Dentistry Camp,” a summer camp to expose students from underserved communities to careers in oral health.

“I realized there was a lack of workforce development opportunity for youth,” Pawlak says.

While the experience revealed strong student interest, it also highlighted barriers to access for those unable to attend a campus-based program. That insight led Pawlak to adapt the model into a mobile, one-day format that could travel to different communities.

The traveling setup resembles a functioning dental clinic. Pawlak brings equipment and materials to each site.

“I pack up the car and bring the immersive dental clinic to the students,” Pawlak says.

The mobile format enables the program to connect with students in areas with a shortage of dental professionals.

“We meet the students where they’re at,” Pawlak says.

Filling a vital need

Many participants arrive with a narrow view of dentistry, believing that becoming a dentist was the only career path available. By the end of the day, that view expands.

“A lot of time they think, ‘I will be a dentist,’ so there is no other option,” Yepes says. “But they have this eye-opener. You can be an office manager, dental assistant, or dental hygienist.”

That understanding reflects the broader needs of the field, which has shortages not only of dentists but also of hygienists, assistants, and support staff.

“We are in a very, very tight shortage countrywide,” Yepes says. “We need people who want to pursue any of the careers.”

Students in the program not only observe; they talk with dental students and faculty about the path ahead.

“They were asking, how hard is dental school? What efforts need to be done?” Yepes says. “Those kids are very decided on pursuing a career in dental.”

The program highlights the range of roles in dentistry and the different skills each requires.

“We’re not focusing just on becoming dentists. That’s not for everyone,” says Dr. Lauren Gritzer, community impact and evaluation director for Planet Smilez. “Each profession has a different personality type.”

Dentists often take on leadership roles, managing teams and making clinical decisions. Hygienists focus on prevention and patient education, building relationships with patients over time. Dental assistants support procedures and keep operations running smoothly.

Students also learn that dentistry combines technical precision with creativity.

“There’s a lot of artistry. You have to be good with shape, color, and perspective,” Gritzer says.

Understanding the ‘why’

Lessons connect oral health to broader health outcomes, emphasizing prevention and long-term care.

“A lot of curriculum out there doesn’t really talk about the ‘why,’” Gritzer says. “It’s just, ‘brush your teeth two times a day for two minutes,’ but they don’t talk about how it affects your overall health.

“If they understand why oral health is important, we’ve done our job.”

Feedback from the event points to strong engagement. Gritzer says that in post-event surveys, 85% of participating students reported interest in pursuing a career in oral health.

Mentorship plays a key role. Dental and hygiene students help participants through activities and share their experiences.

“The near-peer mentors are the glue to our program,” Gritzer says.

Reaching students early is important.

“They’re at the age where they’re deciding what courses to take,” Pawlak says. “It helps them decide what schooling they want to do.”

While the program has grown to include multiple locations and hundreds of participants, Pawlak wants to do more.

“I would love to scale the program to get kids interested in the field of dentistry and the many career opportunities within it,” she says.

Photos by Terry Wilson, director of public relations and marketing at the Indiana University School of Dentistry.