On Friday, November 9, more than 50 individuals with special needs received free dental care during Day for Special Smiles, an A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) annual initiative, which serves individuals with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities.
Patients received services that included as x-rays, dental exams, dental cleanings, fluoride treatment, fillings, extractions, and other educational services from dental students and students from Grand Canyon University and ATSU's athletic training and audiology programs. A total of $23,500 in treatment and services were provided in four hours.
Unique community events such as Day for Special Smiles are especially important for this population as dentistry is not a covered service, according to the school. As a result, these individuals suffer from untreated oral diseases.
The ASDOH is one of six schools that make up A.T. Still University. The Mesa-based dental school was the first in Arizona and is home to four public dental clinics.
