Rapport Winter 2010/11 : Page 29
shaRiNG sMiLes day [ AFteR cLASS s That’s a situation that Mccallum chulich dentistry launched another “initially, (the participants) were a little timid. and his colleagues hope to change. exciting outreach program last year, but then when they walked into the room “The students got the chance to interact as the school hosted london’s first-where we had games, it was hard not with the special needs participants and ever ‘sharing smiles day,’ an event aimed to smile.” see them as people,” Mccallum says. at removing barriers, raising awareness, Michelle Palmer, executive director “Now they will be more likely to make and educating students and dentists about of community Living London, was also a commitment to treating (special needs the importance of oral health care for extremely pleased with the event. patients) when they graduate, increasing persons with special needs. “it was the perfect combination of fun access to dental care for this population.” close to 250 people – including and learning,” she says. “dental students dr. harinder sandhu, director of 100 students and 100 special needs learned about providing adapted dental schulich dentistry, takes a great deal participants – attended the event last april, care, and the people we support learned of pride in the outreach program. “This is which was a partnership between schulich that the future dentists they met are lots the most amazing initiative undertaken dentistry, community Living London of fun and not to be feared.” by our dental students,” he says. “schulich and ‘oral health, Total health.’ The day dental care is one of the top unmet dentistry trains students to be socially included games led by the dental students, health needs for persons with special responsible, and this is a wonderful a luncheon and demonstrations by faculty needs, and research has shown that this example of that.” dentists on proper oral care. client population is at an increased risk of Mccallum and his team are now “it was pure, natural fun between oral disease. unfortunately, individuals the client and the student, and that’s with physical and/or intellectual disabilities looking ahead to the second annual ‘sharing smiles day.’ This year’s event the connection we wanted,” says Jeremy have trouble finding care in their will be held on March 27, 2011 from Mccallum, a third-year schulich dentistry communities – in part due to dentists’ student who co-chairs the London lack of comfort with special needs patients, 10 am-2 pm at The Great hall on Western’s campus. chapter of oral health, Total health. as well as misconceptions about treatment. FoR MoRe PhoTos visiT www.schulich.uwo.ca/rapport 2010/11 rappOrt [ 31
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