Team Smile Provides Free Dental Care at Rupp Arena
Local dentists treated 155 children at the Lexington arena in an event organized by the nonprofit Team Smile.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Team Smile provided free dental care to 155 children at Rupp Arena in Lexington on Friday, November 6, 2026. The event was the first the nonprofit has held in Kentucky.
Why it matters
The event gives children access to dental care they might otherwise go without, delivered through a tailgate-style format built with sports partners. It marks Team Smile's expansion into Kentucky, bringing its model to Lexington residents.
Team Smile treated 155 children in a single day at Rupp Arena on November 6, 2026. The stub does not provide funding totals or the number of volunteer dentists involved.
The players
Team Smile
Team Smile is a nonprofit that pairs professional and collegiate sports teams with local dentists to provide free dental care to children.
The details
Team Smile created a tailgate-like experience in partnership with professional and collegiate teams, with local dentists providing the care. The Friday event was the nonprofit's first in Kentucky and was held at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
Timeline
Friday, November 6, 2026: 155 children received free dental care at Rupp Arena.
Philanthropy Context
The Lexington event extends Team Smile's model of pairing professional and collegiate sports teams with local dentists into Kentucky for the first time. The stub provides no comparison to prior Team Smile events in other states.
Families in Lexington may find free pediatric dental care available through community events like this one. The stub does not describe how future events will be scheduled or how families can sign up.
The takeaway
Community-based dental events can reach children who lack regular access to care, and partnerships with local sports teams can help draw families to them. Residents interested in similar programs can watch for announcements from local providers.
Further reading
Explore more philanthropy coverage to see how nonprofits like Team Smile are funding community services in Lexington.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wkyt.
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