Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero; EAFocus Communications; 248.260.8466; barbara@eafocus.com
Rochester, Mich. ––May 18, 2017 ––It will be smiles all around for athletes competing at the upcoming Michigan Special Olympics Summer Games and the dentistry team at Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry. The Rochester, Mich., dental practice, which focuses on cosmetic, implant and restorative dentistry, has assembled a volunteer team to help provide free dental exams and oral hygiene tips to competitors participating in the Games as part of the Special Smiles program, a division of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program that focuses oral health.
According to Jeff Haddad, D.D.S., the Special Smiles program reaches out to individuals with intellectual disabilities to ensure they receive the dental health services they need.
“Because Special Olympics athletes are often a part of an underserved and overlooked community, they may have untreated oral health issues that traditionally can be met by regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene,” Dr. Haddad explained. “The Special Smiles program not only gives our Special Olympics participants access to dental screenings, but finds dental practices to treat the athletes and remind their families how important oral health care is to their overall health.”
Inspired by his 7-year-old niece, Katelyn Acciavatti, who has Down Syndrome, Dr. Haddad first became involved in the Special Smiles program in 2016 when he and his DH colleagues volunteered at the Summer Games.
“The Summer Games are much more than a competition; it’s a time to renew or make new friendships,” Dr. Haddad said. “Our dental team is truly moved by the Special Olympians who work so hard to compete, and we’re happy to support them and the countless others who dedicate their time and enthusiasm to serving the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities.”
This year’s Special Olympics Summer Games will take place June 1–3 at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. For more information, visit http://www.somi.org/events/summergames.html#.WQjyS-XyuUk.
About Special Olympics Healthy Athletes®
The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program offers health services and information to athletes in dire need. The program currently offers health screenings in seven areas: Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (better health and well-being), Healthy Hearing (audiology), MedFest (sports physical exam), Opening Eyes (vision) and Special Smiles (dentistry). Screenings educate athletes on healthy lifestyle choices and identify problems that may need additional follow-up. For more information, click here.
About Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry
Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry was founded in Rochester in 1990 by Dr. Kurt Doolin. Dr. Jeff Haddad joined the practice in 2002. In addition to their dental school training, both Drs. Doolin and Haddad are fellows of The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and lecture nationally on implants, TMJ, and restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Marco Tironi, D.D.S. joined Rochester Advanced Dentistry in 2013; the practice has 13 team members. Discover Health. Discover Happiness. Discover How. DiscoverDH. To learn more, visit www.discoverdh.com.
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