Missouri Students Receive Free Dental Care Education
Young children in kindergarten through third grade are receiving free oral health kits and lessons at school.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Primary Education
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Delta Dental of Missouri has introduced its Land of Smiles: The Grin Prix program for students in kindergarten through third grade. This initiative provides free oral and vision health education to 23,500 children across the state this fall.
Why it matters
The program is designed to help children build healthy lifelong habits by teaching essential hygiene and care practices at an early age. It is offered to schools at no cost, helping families manage preventive health needs without additional expenses.
The program will impact 925 students at Parkview Elementary School, Loftus Early Childhood Center, and Washington Elementary School in Sedalia. Since its inception in 2002, the initiative has reached 1.2 million students across 113 Missouri counties.
The players
Delta Dental of Missouri
A dental insurance provider that sponsors health education programs for schools across the state.
Sedalia
A Missouri city hosting the program at three local educational facilities.
The details
The curriculum uses interactive, character-led storytelling featuring Captain Super Grin, Terri Tooth Fairy, and Peepers to engage young children. These performances, held in-person or virtually, explain proper brushing, flossing, healthy eating, and the importance of professional dental and vision checkups. Participating students also receive a free kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss to support their daily hygiene routine at home.
Timeline
The Land of Smiles program launched in 2002.
The program reached 60,000 students during the 2025 school year.
Instruction reaches 23,500 Missouri children in the fall of 2026.
The Home Front
This initiative reflects a broader trend in Missouri of integrating preventive health education directly into the primary school curriculum. It serves as a private-sector effort to supplement public health goals by providing consistent care resources at no charge to local districts.
If your child is in kindergarten through third grade, check with their school office to see if the Land of Smiles program is scheduled for their classroom. Ensure children have their own age-appropriate toothbrush and floss at home to practice the habits taught during the performance.
The takeaway
The Land of Smiles program offers a free, interactive way to reinforce dental and vision hygiene for young children. Parents should encourage daily brushing and flossing at home to maintain the habits students learn during these school-based presentations.
Further reading
You can find more resources on local school programs in the Primary Education section.
More information
To see if your school is included or to learn more, you can Schedule a Land of Smiles performance.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sedalia Democrat.
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