UTHealth Houston dentistry students educate athletes at Special Olympics Texas

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry volunteers provided oral health screenings and education to athletes at the Special Olympics Texas Winter Games. (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry students, residents, and faculty participated in the Healthy Athletes Special Smiles program during the Special Olympics Texas Winter Games on Feb. 14, in Bee Cave, Texas.

The outreach effort was organized by the dental school’s chapters of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, the Student National Dental Association, and the Special Care Dentistry Association, under the guidance of faculty sponsor Esther Kuyinu, DDS, MPH, associate professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics.

Volunteers included first- and second-year dental students, an Advanced Education in General Dentistry resident, faculty members from the School of Dentistry, and predental students.

The dental component of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program, known as Special Smiles, is one of several health disciplines that provide free screenings and education to athletes.

During the event, athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities received oral health screenings and education. Services included head and neck exams, oral health evaluations, oral cancer screenings, and oral hygiene education. A total of 72 Special Olympics athletes received dental screenings.

Parents and guardians also received education on oral health, nutrition, and modified oral hygiene techniques using the Brush and Bite Kit. Each athlete received a kit designed to simulate a dental office visit, allowing participants to become familiar with dental instruments in a low-stress environment. This desensitization approach helps prepare individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for future dental appointments and promotes more positive clinical experiences.

Dental student volunteers included second-years Jed Chen, Vanessa Hoang, Hannah Johannessen, Matthew Khuu, Osaivbie Uhunmwuangho, and first-year Tristin Davis. Jessica Kagan, DDS, served as the resident volunteer. Faculty participants included Kuyinu; Roxana Byers, DDS; Ahmad Naraghi, DDS; Amy Ridall, DDS; and Erin Thomas, DDS.