CDM works with Special Olympic athletes Feb. 8
On Feb. 8, Charleston received the Special Olympics athletes from throughout South Carolina competing at the winter games.
College
of Dental Medicine student Tracie Prevatte instruct Special Olympic athletes
in the art of brushing.
The volunteer dental team, which included MUSC faculty, dental students and private dentists. They provided dental screening, fitting of mouth guards for those athletes who were competing in contact sports, giving oral hygiene instruction and distributing “goodies” for those athletes who completed the screening.
“The participation of the dental school is part of our outreach effort and it is in line with the College of Dental Medicine programs regarding individuals with special needs,” said Carlos Salinas, DDS, DMD, South Carolina dental director for Special Olympics Special Smiles Program and the primary investigator for a dental health program for children with special needs.
Melissa Serrano, Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, was in charge of the logistics of the project and Andy Contreras, Academic Magnet High School, helped as a volunteer.
The athletes began registering at the dental booth at 9 a.m. and by the end of the day more than 100 athletes had received the exam.
“I was amazed how pleasant and cooperative the athletes were with me,” said Brandon Chadwell, CDM student.
“I have helped in the past and today I was fitting the athletes with mouth guards and oral hygiene education. It was a great experience,” said Richard Ressler, CDM student.
The dental team for the winter games included Dr. María Córdova, a private practitioner, Luis Leite, DDS, MUSC Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, and Salinas, MUSC Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics.
The dental students participants included: Valerie Opala, Chadwell, Kim Coxe, Richard Ressler, Cheria Bell, Martin Toporek, Emily Cooper, Jessica Woller, Allyson Varn, Beau Benich, Hamp Kennemore and Tracie Prevatte.
The South Carolina Special Smiles Dental Program is supported in part
by the Special Olympics—Healthy Athletes, the Duke Endowment Grant, and
the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics.
Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as
needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations
for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South
Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107
or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst
Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu
or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community
Press at 849-1778.