Special Smiles® (Dentistry)
The Special Smiles® discipline of Healthy Athletes provides comprehensive oral health care information, including free dental screenings and instructions on correct brushing and flossing techniques to Special Olympics athletes. 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 has demonstrated remarkable success in creating awareness and improving access to dental care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
For further information or general inquiries related to this discipline, please contact us at specialsmiles@specialolympics.org. SO Program staff and established Clinical Directors are encouraged to submit their questions through our online form available here.
For further information or general inquiries related to this discipline, please contact us at specialsmiles@specialolympics.org. SO Program staff and established Clinical Directors are encouraged to submit their questions through our online form available here.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Fact Sheets Global (PDF)
- Fact Sheets United States (PDF)
- Discipline Specific Branding Materials (webpage)
- Health Branding and Graphics
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See all stories related to this discipline.
The Special Smiles discipline of Healthy Athletes provides comprehensive oral health care information, including offering free dental screenings and instructions on correct brushing and flossing techniques to participating Special Olympics athletes.
CLINICAL DIRECTORS
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Clinical Director Role (webpage)
Special Olympics Clinical Directors are volunteer professionals who are responsible for working with their local Special Olympics Program and other volunteer health professionals in coordinating the local Healthy Athletes Program. - Clinical Director Training Manual and Handbook (PDF)
- Virtual Presentation for Clinical Directors (PPTX)
- Training Guide for Programs and Clinical Directors (PDF)
- Clinical Director Trainee Questions (DOCX)
- Referral Type Decision Guidance (coming soon)
- Clinical Tips for Mouthguard fabrication (coming soon)
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
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Volunteer with Healthy Athletes
Join the more than 90,000 health care providers and students worldwide who have volunteered with the Healthy Athletes program. - Connect with your local Special Olympics Program: Use our Special Olympics Regions page to find yours.
- Volunteer Certificate (DOCX)
- Tracking clinical volunteer ability by station (coming soon)
- Tracking clinical vol. count per shift (coming soon)
EVENT RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT
HAS
Legal Forms
Equipment and Supply List
Event Planning Materials
Athlete and Caregiver Resources
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HAS Form (webpage)
The Healthy Athletes System (HAS) enables the electronic capture of screening data across the Healthy Athletes disciplines.
- Special Smiles Equipment & Supplies List (PDF)
- Products Needs Form (coming soon)
- US portal supplies: Copy of US Portal Supplies List (XLSX)
- US portal supplies: All US Programs Supplies Portal
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Outside of the US: International Supplies List (XLSX)
SO Jamaica, Germany and Canada ONLY International (website) -
Outside of the US: SO Jamaica, Germany and Canada ONLY International
All US Programs (website)
- Sample Venue Layout (coming soon)
- Athlete Report and Recommendation Card (PDF)
- Brushing Guide (PDF)
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Learn the important of Oral Hygiene and how to maintain it
Learn about the importance of oral hygiene with Novie Craven and Justin Hunsinger as they ask Dr. Miran Ho and Dr. Isaac Navarro, Smile Generation dentists, about oral hygiene care. - Caregivers Guide to Good Oral Health for Persons with Special Needs (English) (PDF)
- Caregivers Guide to Good Oral Health for Persons with Special Needs (Spanish) (PDF)
- Oral Health and the Body (PDF)
- Protect Your Smile (PDF)
- MyHealth: Special Smiles
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
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How to Speak with People with Disabilities (video)
Whether you are in a health care or other professional environment or just having a personal conversation, consider these basic rules for communicating with a person with an intellectual disability. Download - Working with Special Olympics Athletes (PDF)
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Health Professional Training
Take free eLearning courses to learn how to treat people with intellectual disabilities.
- Practical Oral Care for People with Developmental Disabilities (PDF)
- Introduction to Patients with Special Healthcare Needs (PDF)