When you hear the name Pre-Dental Association, you might think of a simple club full of oral-conscious students munching on apples and carrots discussing toothpaste and floss during meetings.

However, you’d be mistaken, because for the Pre-Dental Association, there’s a lot more to the organization than what many might think.

And while you may not know who they are, you’ve most likely seen what they’ve done.

Executive president Jessie Manton said that the organization has been recognized not only for what it provides for pre-dental students, but for its many programs held in the community throughout the year.

“We’re a portal between Sac State and other associations,” he said.

This “portal” connection includes associations such as the Sacramento District Dental Society. The most recent program was this fall’s “Project Backpack,” which is a part of Sacramento District Dental Society’s “Smiles for Kids” program that provides free dental care to children in the Sacramento area who otherwise could not afford it. The members of the Pre-Dental Association raise money to buy brand-new backpacks for these children and fill them with dental and school supplies.

“We donated about 300 backpacks and next year we want to give out about 800 to 1,000 backpacks,” Manton said.

Another program is the “Smile Angels.” During the winter holiday, volunteers visit children in hospitals in the pediatric intensive care unit where they give out stuffed animals and toys.

The organization also helps in a number of other programs as well. In the “Flying Toothbrushes” program, the Pre-Dental Association sends oral supplies to children who live in impoverished areas of the world.

Parents are educated about how to help their children with good oral health tips during Parent Education Night, held once a semester at the children center on campus.

Perhaps one of its most well-known fundraisers is the Annual Beer and Wine Tasting Event. In the spring, the organization gives the community a chance to win prizes, participate in auctions and taste some of Northern California’s finest.

During the winter, volunteers ski down the slopes of Tahoe’s Ski Resort however many times they are sponsored to, putting a Tahoe twist on the much-used Jog-A-Thon.

Proceeds made towards these events go towards Project Backpack and Flying Toothbrushes.

Manton says that it’s the many programs like these that make the organization stand out.

“One thing we strive for is to be different; to be 100 percent philanthropy,” he said.

This change is a somewhat recent development.

Although the Pre-Dental Association had started a number of years ago, at the time there were only a handful of members and the club was struggling from the lack of experienced leadership.

“When there’s no leadership, a group tends to flounder,” Manton said.

In 2005, Don McAdam became president of the organization, and revived it to what Manton called “a higher level,” giving the members opportunities to become more involved outside their group.

Manton estimates that the organization now has about 60 to 70 members, nearly double from the 20 to 30 members the Pre-Dental Association had last year. He suggested that the growth is from a rising interest in the dental line of work.

“Dental school is becoming a very competitive field. As the baby boomers retire, the demand for dentists is always needed,” he said.

As suggested by its title, the Pre-Dental Association does a number of programs for those hoping to have a career in dentistry. Manton said that there are pre-dental students who do not know what the next and best step is after graduation. He said that the organization looks to overcome that by helping members become familiar towards essential information, such as showing them how to apply for dental school as well as providing free tutoring to those who need it.

Chief secretary Michelle Bruce, a biology major, said she had wanted to be a dentist since she was in seventh grade.

“(The Pre-Dental Association) is a good way for me to narrow down what schools to apply for,” she said.

Vice-president Namphuong Nguyen said that the organization also provides opportunities for shadowing, interning, listening to guest speakers and “seeing what’s available.”

“It’s a great chance to join a club and find out ‘what’s next,'” she said.

However, for some, it’s the people who make this organization worthwhile.

“(I like) how I feel part of a community that helps people as a whole. There are people you can trust,” member Alex Keith, a biology major said.

Manton said he would like to see the organization continue to grow and be recognized nationally.

“I’d like for (Sacramento) State to be seen as a top school to study before going to dental school,” he said.

Kyrie Eberhart can be reached at [email protected]