University of the PACIFIC

Why were there goats, bunnies, chickens, ducks - even a pot belly pig and an alpaca - outside of University of the Pacific's dental clinic in downtown San Francisco? It was the Dugoni School of Dentistry's annual Give Kids a Smile Day. The petting zoo, along with other fun activities, were all part of an effort to help hesitant children overcome the fear of going to the dentist. Give Kids a Smile Day is a free community clinic where faculty and student dentists provide oral screening and teeth cleaning to more than 100 Bay Area kids. There was also an educational component teaching kids and parents the proper way to brush and floss, and other ways to prevent cavaties.