Project Accessible Oral Health (PAOH) has launched a new program called All Smiles Shine on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families and caregivers.
The All Smiles Shine program is a comprehensive outreach effort sponsored by Delta Dental, Colgate, and Henry Schein and will include the following:
- Educational materials for people with disabilities and their families
- Training for oral care professionals
- An app available on the Apple App Store or Google Play designed to help children with disabilities with oral health and dental visits
More than two-thirds of the 6.5 million people with IDD in the U.S. cannot access the dental care they need, according to PAOH. The result is a higher burden of dental diseases and cavities, which can exacerbate other medical problems, cause significant pain, or create eating and communication challenges.
PAOH said it hopes the All Smiles Shine program will bring long overdue attention to this critical issue.
