Media Advisory - Sharing Smiles Day - Bridging the Dental Care Gap for
Persons with Special Needs

Presented by Mount Sinai Hospital's Oral Health, Total Health and Colgate

OAKVILLE, ON, March 24 /CNW/ - The media are invited to Sharing Smiles Day - the second annual event that educates and emphasizes the importance of oral health care for persons with special needs.

Right now, the dental and oral health of persons with special needs is undertreated, 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 the GTA and Ontario by fostering comfort between dental students and dentists, and persons with special needs. This will improve this population's accessibility to oral health care.

The event is hosted by Mount Sinai Hospital's Oral Health, Total Health program in partnership with Colgate.

    
    Sharing Smiles Day activities:

    -   Carnival fun and games led by dental students for persons with
        special needs
    -   Luncheon
    -   Colgate sponsored interactive oral hygiene demonstrations by the
        dental students and faculty

    Sharing Smiles Day participants:

    -   Persons with special needs from Community Living Oakville and
        Community Living Burlington
    -   University of Toronto dental students and George Brown oral hygiene
        students
    -   Local and world-renowned dentists, researchers
    -   Special needs workers and Mount Sinai Hospital dentistry staff
    -   MPP Kevin Flynn and the Mayor of Oakville, Mr. Rob Burton
    

Oral Health, Total Health was established by Ali Segal, a second-year dental student from the University of Toronto. The campaign's goal is to educate, advocate and raise $2 million for the Dental Program for Persons with Disabilities at Mount Sinai Hospital.

You are welcome to attend and take photographs or film the interactive demonstrations. Ali Sigal will be available for on-site interviews to discuss the event and her fundraising campaign.

Where: Le Dome, 1173 North Service Road East, Oakville

When: Saturday, March 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please note there is a parking lot beside the venue and it is possible to run cables for a live feed, if needed.

For further information: Ali Sigal, Founder & Chair, Oral Health, Total Health, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]