Special Smiles

Special Smiles provides comprehensive oral health care information, including free dental screenings and instructions on correct brushing and flossing techniques to Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The program is designed to help athletes improve their health and their ability to train and compete in Special Olympics as well as life. Volunteer dental health professionals and students perform oral health screenings, oral hygiene instruction, mouthguard adaptation, and apply fluoride varnish for athletes participating in the screening. 

Special Smiles also aims to expose oral healthcare professionals to work with people with intellectual disabilities with the hope that the barriers this population faces to obtaining healthcare are diminished and more oral healthcare professionals are willing to treat this population.