April 25 is Sharing Smiles Day
Media are invited to Sharing Smiles Day – the second annual event that educates and emphasizes the importance of oral health care for persons with disabilities.
Right now, the dental and oral health of persons with special needs is underrated, which can detrimentally impact the overall health of this vulnerable population. The goal of Sharing Smiles Day is to start bridging this health gap in Manitoba and all across the country by fostering comfort between dental students and dentists, and people with disabilities. This will improve this population’s accessibility to oral health care.
The event is hosted by the Centre for Community Oral Health in the College of Dentistry at the U of M, the Winnipeg chapter of Oral Health, Total Health, and Colgate.
Sharing Smiles Day activities
- Carnival fun and games led by dental students for persons with disabilities
- Luncheon
- Colgate sponsored interactive oral hygiene demonstrations
Sharing Smiles Day participants
- Persons with disabilities from Community Living Winnipeg
- University of Manitoba dental and dental hygiene students
- Local dentists, specialists, and College of Dentistry professors
- Support workers and other special guests
Oral Health, Total Health was founded in 2008 by a then-first-year dental student Ali Sigal, and has since set up chapters across the country. Second-year dental students from the University of Manitoba, Darryll Iwaszkiw and Derek Chung, established Oral Health, Total Health Winnipeg chapter in October 2013. The organization’s goal is to educate, advocate and improve oral health care for people with disabilities all across Canada and to raise money for dental clinics that treat this population.
Media are welcome to attend and take photographs or film the interactive demonstrations. Chris Ward, Maria Mikos, Darryll Iwaszkiw and Derek Chung will be available for on-site interviews to discuss the event and organization.
Where: Brodie Atrium, University of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus, 727 McDermot Ave
When: Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Please note there is space beside the venue and it is possible to run cables for a live feed, if needed.