Sharing Smiles Day recognized by local community

Schulich Dentistry's chapter of Oral Health, Total Health, and all the participants at this year's Sharing Smiles Day, have one more reason to smile.

The event was selected as one of three finalists for a Pillar Community Innovation Award. These awards celebrate all the great work by non-profit sector organizations, people and partners to make our community brighter.

Recently, 700 people attended the Pillar Nonprofit Network Awards to see the finalists and recipients honoured. No one was happier to be there than the Vice-Dean and Director of Schulich Dentistry, Dr. Harinder Sandhu.

"I felt a huge sense of pride and elation when Schulich Dentistry students were recognized as one of the three finalists by Pillar. It's immensely gratifying to know our students embrace social responsibility as one of their core values."

For the past four years, Schulich Dentistry's student-led Oral Health, Total Health organization has invited people with special needs to come to Western's Great Hall for a fun-filled day.

More than 120 volunteers including students, faculty, dentists and hygienists, as well as 80 participants from Community Living London and other organizations took part in the 2013 event.

The day is designed to break down attitudinal barriers for both dentists and patients. It starts off with a carnival morning featuring games and face-painting, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, there are demonstrations and tips on oral hygiene, with students providing one-on-one care and attention.

"People with special needs are an underserviced population. A lot of dentists in our community are hesitant to work with children with special needs or adults with special needs because they require different care," said co-coordinator Tara Kennedy, Dentistry Class of 2015. "The event provides a really unique exposure for students."

Kennedy had a special motivation to join Oral Health, Total Health. "I had a lot of experience working with kids with special needs and I knew this was something I wanted to get involved with."

Kathleen Martin, also a third-year student and co-coordinator added, "As dental students, we get so wrapped up in school work and hanging out around the dental building that we forget there's a whole real world out there of patients that we're going to have in the future, and it's honestly such a fun day."

Fundraising is already underway for Sharing Smiles Day 2014.