In April, while many students spent spring break away from the classroom, a group of students from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry traveled to Puerto Rico to provide dental care for underserved patients, gaining firsthand experience providing care while serving communities with limited access to oral healthcare.
These service trips, conducted in partnership with Overflowing Hands, are part of the College of Dentistry’s longstanding commitment to outreach and service. For Elijah Dunlap, Class of 2028 and a first-time participant, hearing from Dr. Craig Adams, the lead dentist on the trip, and students who had participated previously inspired him to get involved.
“The testimony of Dr. Craig Adams and students who had been there before motivated me to go on this service trip,” Dunlap said. “Everyone expressed how valuable the experience would be, and I knew I couldn’t pass it up.”
The outreach effort marked the fifth mission trip bringing together College of Dentistry students alongside volunteer dentists, hygienists, medical providers, clergy and lay volunteers from both the mainland United States and Puerto Rico. Overflowing Hands coordinated the travel, lodging, activities and clinic operations, allowing students to focus on patient care throughout the week.
Students provided care in a temporary clinic setting alongside volunteer dentists and translators, treating patients who otherwise may not have had access to dental care.
Many patients waited hours for care, “but it was clear how deeply they cared for one another,” said Calvin Hunter, Class of 2027. “I saw patients who had waited all day let others receive care first because their needs were more urgent. That sense of compassion and human connection left a lasting impression on me.”
The outreach setting required students to adapt quickly and work efficiently under challenging conditions.
“We were providing care to patients on camping cots, with only headlamps and our loupe lights, using a limited selection of instruments, at a rapid pace, to be able to see as many patients as possible each day,” said Myranda Elliott, Class of 2028. “At UKCD, we get so much time with each patient and work through in-depth charting and procedural steps before providing care in comfortable, well-lit operatories with a wide array of instruments and supervision at our disposal.”
Cultural differences also shaped the way students connected with patients throughout the trip. While translators helped bridge communication gaps, students often relied on basic Spanish skills, body language and gestures of kindness to build trust and comfort with patients.
“Language was definitely a barrier for many patients,” Elliot said. While several spoke English, we only had a few translators to share amongst the team. It challenged my knowledge of dental-related Spanish and allowed me to get more confident at speaking it. It also motivated me to start working now to be better for next year.”
Students said experiences like the Puerto Rico outreach trip, along with opportunities such as RAM and Mission Lexington, reinforced the College of Dentistry’s mission to improve oral health and expand access to care across Kentucky and beyond. Hunter said those experiences help students better understand the responsibility dentists have to serve communities in need.
“I think opportunities like this, RAM, and Mission Lexington help develop a strong sense of responsibility to serve communities, which is especially important for dental professionals in Kentucky,” Hunter said. “When you work with patients facing significant barriers to care, your perspective shifts toward meeting people where they are and addressing their needs with compassion. Experiences like this also teach us how to be resourceful and adapt when challenges arise.”
A list of UK dental students who went on this trip:
Class of 2028: Claire Bishop, Elijah Dunlap, Myranda Elliott, Aidan Hiester, Haleigh Stone, Mercedes Miguel
Class of 2027: Matt Rafla, Breanna Childress, Grace Evans, Maci Ferguson, Meg Negrelli, James Henry, Calvin Hunter, Peyton MacPhail, Spencer New, Addison Cline, Olivia Hamilton, Emily Royster