Kelly Yang, a third-year student at the Hunter College of Dentistry at Texas Tech University-El Paso, noticed that many patients with special needs relied on sedation to feel comfortable during routine dental procedures.
To this end, she founded the “Smiles For All” program to help these patients gradually adapt to the dental environment and alleviate their fear and anxiety.
The program pairs special needs patients with dental student volunteers, who gradually guide them through dental equipment, sounds, and procedures.
On the fourth Friday of each month, patients receive one-on-one coaching at the school’s dental clinic. Volunteers assign each patient a dedicated mentor to ensure consistent and stable support.
Currently, the program focuses on patients with autism, with plans to expand to patients with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
“Relying on sedation for treatment is a necessary evil for people with disabilities,” said Ms. Yang. “I hope to create a more welcoming environment within the school’s existing facilities.”
She learned about desensitization treatments for children with autism while attending the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry conference and felt this concept was crucial to improving care for special needs patients.
Her commitment to the special needs community stems from her childhood experiences, including participating in “ice skating therapy,” organizing proms for special needs individuals, and teaching them golf.
Ms. Yang said, “Every golf shot is unique and challenging, which inspired me to understand the diverse needs of my patients in dentistry.”
Research shows that children with special medical needs often face significant barriers to accessing routine dental care, and a lack of early intervention leads to reliance on sedation and expensive emergency procedures.
Through the “Everyone Smiles” program, future dentists will cultivate awareness and empathy for early intervention, improve the patient experience, and reduce the need for emergency visits.
Faculty Advisor Wilma Luquis-Aponte witnessed the program’s success: “We successfully helped a 30-year-old patient with Level 3 autism, who had not received dental care for several years, complete treatment without sedation.”
Students introduced themselves, established trust with patients and caregivers, adjusted lighting, and used clear language and visual aids to coordinate treatments with the patient’s pace.
The program collaborates with student organizations such as the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Interest Group and Disability Inclusion in Dentistry, typically assigning seven student volunteers to three children.
The clinic features two dedicated examination rooms equipped with customized tools and soothing lighting, one of which is specifically designed for wheelchair users.
Funding support from Bank of America El Paso and Ethos Financial ensures the smooth operation of the program.
Reuben H. Torres, President of Bank of America El Paso, said, “Smiles for Everyone addresses a critical community need, improving the oral health of our residents and making it a vital part of our community’s prosperity.”
Nearly 40% of El Paso residents live in dental shortage areas, making programs like Smiles for Everyone crucial.
The School of Dentistry utilizes a spiral approach to systematically develop students’ skills in special needs care starting in their first year, with students completing multiple case studies.
Lucis-Aponte emphasized that the program is collaborating with universities such as Texas A&M University, University of the Pacific, and Pennsylvania State University to advance special needs dental care.
After graduation, Ms. Yang plans to pursue residency training in pediatric dentistry and continue her commitment to improving access to dental care for children with special needs.
Ms. Yang said, “Every smile we help create is a testament to trust and comfort. When a child who once relied on sedation can confidently undergo a teeth cleaning, we know change is happening.”
