Heydi Vanegas
Tooth travelers: Students sharpen their skills on dental mission trips over the summer breaks
A busy dental student scheduled to graduate next May, few would fault Mackenzie “Kenzie” Bankes for heading to Jamaica for a few lazy days to enjoy sandy beaches and misty mountains. But those and even dances to the Caribbean island’s famous reggae beats had to wait. Bankes and fellow Texas A&M University College of Dentistry students traveled Aug. 1-8 on a dental mission trip to St. Elizabeth Parish and its Helping Hand Dental Clinic in the southwestern part of the country. Working with the nonprofit Christian Medical & Dental Association, they provided oral hygiene education, cleanings, fillings and tooth extractions to more than 600 underserved residents rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa last year. Read More
Bits and Bites – August 2026
Here's a roundup of some of news around Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Dr. Liang Hong, head of public health sciences, recently shared that more than 10,000 people received oral health education from A&M Dentistry students and faculty during the 2025-26 school year. There were 480 dental screenings conducted at oral health fairs. Read More