A LOT TO SMILE ABOUT: Athletes pose next to the Pacific Dental Serices Mobile Dental Clinic, which partnered to provide dental care to the special needs community during the USA Games.
BY BARBIE VARTANIAN
Did you know that oral health is the number one unmet healthcare need for individuals with disabilities? As the parent of a child with special needs, I became acutely aware of the barriers to access for oral health care for this population very early on. As the head of a non-profit that is focused on improving oral health as a whole, I had the opportunity to ensure that caring for the special needs community was an integral part of that organization. The Pacific Dental Services Foundation has developed several tools and programs that support the dental industry in awareness of and advocacy for people with special needs. Our Foundation has trained over 1,500 dental professionals to date on how to better facilitate a positive and successful experience for the patient and their caregivers. In addition to training and advocacy, our mobile dental clinic provides us with another unique resource for which we can provide care to those with intellectual and physical disabilities and this is how our collaboration began with the Special Olympics and the Special Smiles program.
After an introduction to Dr. Steven Perlman, DDS, MScD, DHL, the Global Clinical Director and Founder of Special Olympics Special Smiles, at the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles, an immediate partnership was forged. The shared commitment between these two organizations has made a positive impact in the special needs community, not just at the games but also yearround on a regional level.
This year's 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle took place at the University of Washington and marked the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics, the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The PDS Foundation was on hand during the event as the only mobile dental clinic providing oral healthcare to competing athletes competing. As part of its Healthy Athletes program, our Foundation partnered with Smile Generation-trusted clinicians to provide comprehensive dental care to 118 Special Olympics athletes, and donated nearly $75,000 in oral health services.
According to Dr. Perlman, "the ability to provide service thanks to PDS Foundation, emergency care at the sight was invaluable to the athletes, and the empathy, compassion, and quality care that was given to the was heart wrenching. From the bottom of my heart, I thank the PDS Foundation for their support and helping deliver care to the Special Olympics Athletes." So many amazing stories came from our days at the games. We had the pleasure to meet Richard, an athlete from New Jersey who complained to his coach of dental pain on his flight to Seattle. His coach brought Richard to be screened by Special Smiles volunteers where he was immediately referred to the PDS Mobile Dental Clinic. After an x-ray confirmed that the decay in the tooth had reached the nerve, it was determined that the tooth needed to be extracted. The extraction was done onsite and Richard was all smiles afterward, seen here with Dr. Perlman!
Another athlete in immediate need of care, Tyler Schuster from Virginia, broke his tooth while competing in his first softball game while in Seattle. Luckily for Tyler, he was able to be seen by Dr. Bolak, a Smile Generation volunteer, who was on site at the mobile dental clinic. Tyler's x-rays revealed that in addition to the root canal and crown needing to be treated after the accident, he would also need two fillings, a comprehensive cleaning, and fluoride varnish application. Dr. Bolak treated Tyler and he was back to competing the next day!
For me, it's a privilege to have this Smiles has made a positive impact in the special needs community year-round on a regional level. incredible opportunity to support the Special Olympics for their 2018 USA National Games by providing our mobile dental clinic for the athletes attending the event. As part of our mission to provide access to dental care for the special needs community, our partnership with the Special Olympics exemplifies our commitment to service.•
ROLLING OUT: (Clockwise from top left) The Pacific Dental Services Mobile Clinic; Richard, an athlete from New Jersey, before and after his procedure with Dr. Perlman; Tyler, before and after treatment by Dr. Bolak.
So many amazing stories came from our days at the games. We had the pleasure to meet Richard, an athlete from New Jersey who complained to his coach of dental pain on his flight to Seattle. His coach brought Richard to be screened by Special Smiles volunteers where he was immediately referred to the PDS Mobile Dental. After an x-ray confirmed that the decay in the tooth had reached the nerve, it was determined that the tooth needed to be extracted. The extraction was done onsite and Richard was all smiles afterward, seen here with Dr. Perlman!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Barbara Vartanian is the head of the Pacific Dental Services Foundation, whose mission is to provide opportunities to serve through improving oral health for at-risk populations. As a mother of a nine-year-old son with autism, Barbara is passionate about ensuring that everyone with intellectual and physical disabilities has a dental home. Over the last five years, the PDS Foundation is committed to advocacy and training for the special needs population and, to date, has trained over 1500 dental professionals. In 2017, under Barbara's leadership, the Foundation will open its first dental clinic that will provide care specifically for individuals with special needs.