School of Dentistry volunteers support athletes at Special Olympics Texas soccer competition

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry volunteers provided oral health screenings and education to athletes at the Special Olympics Texas East Region Soccer Competition.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry students, faculty, and staff delivered oral health screenings and education as part of the Healthy Athletes Special Smiles program during the Special Olympics Texas East Region Soccer Competition on April 11 in The Woodlands, Texas.

The outreach, coordinated through the school’s MOSAIC organization in partnership with student chapters of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, the Student National Dental Association, and the Special Care Dentistry Association, was led by faculty sponsor Erin Potts, DDS. Potts is an associate professor in the Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health and director of the Special Patient Clinic.

Volunteers included first-, second-, and third-year dental students, along with School of Dentistry faculty and staff, predental students, and community volunteers.

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

Working across disciplines, dental students, dental hygienists, dentists, and volunteers provided head and neck exams, oral health and oral cancer screenings, fluoride varnish applications, and personalized oral hygiene instruction for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A total of 58 athletes received screenings.

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

Dental student volunteers included third-year Rina Rodriguez Moreno, second-years Emilee Davis and Kathryn Guan, and first-years Vivek Mynam, Emily Rathke, and Grace Scott. Staff participants included Shanieque Guyton and Toyia Rose. Faculty volunteers included Ahmad Naraghi, DDS; Emily Falls, RDH, BSDH, MAEd; David Fray, DDS, MBA; Esther Kuyinu, DDS, MS; and Potts.