210 - Smiles For All: Student–Patient Partnership Model for Special Needs Individuals

Smiles For All is a structured desensitization and exposure-based program designed to help individuals with special needs—primarily those with autism—become comfortable in dental environments. Through monthly, hour-long sessions, patients are paired consistently with the same dental student providers who gradually introduce dental equipment, sounds, procedures, and clinic routines. This poster presents a case-based overview of the program’s design, implementation, outcomes, and broader implications for improving access to preventive oral health care. Early analysis suggests improved patient tolerance, enhanced student competency, and reduced reliance on emergency dental treatment requiring sedation. The model demonstrates a viable, compassionate pathway for addressing oral health disparities in communities with dental provider shortages.