Special Outreach Services (SOS) offers outreach programs and educational resources to support facilities and families in providing preventive oral healthcare for people with special needs.
Funding from the Special Smiles Dental Foundation enables our 501(c)3 nonprofit to provide special needs caregivers with toothbrushing education and related programs free of charge.
Facilities
SOS serves people with special needs living in Pennsylvania facilities by offering professional caregivers on-site training, instructional videos, and an online course in daily preventive oral healthcare between visits to a dentist.
Families
SOS serves people with special needs living at home in Pennsylvania by offering family caregivers an online course and a series of toothbrushing education videos that include how to minimize stress for themselves and their loved one.
Three Great Outcomes from SOS Preventive Oral Healthcare
1.
Individualized toothbrushing education will make the daily dental hygiene routine easier, more effective, and less stressful for both the caregiver and the individual with special needs.
2.
Oral health issues that arise will be identified and addressed earlier. Issues caregivers may notice include tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, and pain from emerging wisdom teeth.
3.
Less treatment may be needed at the individual’s yearly visit to the dentist, potentially making the visit shorter. Caution: Don’t skip the dentist visit even if the person’s oral health looks good!
Preventive Dental Care Is Necessary but Not Enough
Why Everyone Needs Regular Dentist Visits
