 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Stephen B. Corbin, DDS, MPH, Health and Research Initiatives, Special Olympics,Inc, 1325 G. Street, #500, Washington, DC 20005, 202-824-0283, scorbin@specialolympics.org, Mark L. Wagner, DMD, Health & Research Initiatives, Special Olympics, Inc., 1325 G Street, NW, #500, Washington, DC 20005, and Steven P. Perlman, DDS, MScD, Global Clinical Director, Special Smiles, Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 77 Broad Street, Lynn, MA 01902.
Publications and conferences over the past several years have identified children and adults with intellectual disabilities as having significant oral health needs. In truth, there has been so little interest in the oral health care needs of this population, that scant dates have been available for surveillance and planning purposes. This is unfortunate since oral health problems piled on top of more extensive health challenges often create overwhelming obstacles for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families.
The Special Olympics Special Smiles (SOSS) program, a component of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes, started in the U.S. in 1993 and is present in virtually all states and a number of countries. It is conducted in conjunction with SOGames competitions at local, state, national, regional, and international levels. SOSS is an oral screening program that uses a CDC developed protocol and, in addition, offers personal oral hygiene and dietary education, mouth guards, preventive supplies, oral health report cards, and referral for treatment at the community level.
Because of the global reach of Special Olympics and the nature of its Games which draws large numbers of persons with intellectual disabilities together at one place and time, SO has a unique opportunity to identify the various health needs of tens-of-thousands of persons with intellectual disabilities. This paper will report the oral health status and needs of such persons who were screened at SOSS events in the U.S. and around the world, including several thousands screened during the World Summer SO Games in Dublin, Ireland, June 2003.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Oral Health, Disability
Related Web page: www.specialolympics.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Special Olympics, Inc.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by Special Olympics, Inc.