What Inspired this guide
This guide is the result of a collaboration between Sourires Solidaires; a pediatric dental clinic dedicated to providing adapted dental care for all children, and Élise; a mother who overcame significant challenges after her daughter Sasha, who has an intellectual disability, experienced psychological trauma during a dental procedure.
The long desensitization journey that Élise and Sasha undertook not only proved successful but also led to a meaningful collaboration with Sourires Solidaires.
This guide is the completion of a lengthy process filled with obstacles, perseverance, achievements, and wonderful collaborations.
It is designed to equip parents with the necessary tools to help transform dental care into a positive experience for all children, particularly those with cognitive disabilities, significant fear of the dentist, past trauma, or very young children preparing for their first dental visit.
This site and method are non-profit and generate no profit. This method was developed with the help of Sourires Solidaires and is inspired by various techniques learned during Sasha's desensitization process, in collaboration with psychologists and specialized practitioners. These are primarily well-known and recognized techniques that have been combined into a simplified method aimed at facilitating family support in the dental care process. It must be adapted to each child, as every child is unique. In cases of trauma, significant behavioral issues, or health challenges, it is necessary to seek help from a specialized professional.
« This guide is inspired by our journey with Sasha. It demonstrates the effectiveness of a methodical approach and perseverance, as well as the importance of meeting each child’s specific needs with a tailored approach. By sharing our story and developing this guide, we hope to provide other families with the tools to overcome their own challenges.
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The Story of Sasha and Her Mom Elise
I am Elise the mother of Sasha an exceptional 15-year-old girl with a significant intellectual disability. Sasha's journey with dental care has been particularly tumultuous. At the age of 5, a dental appointment went terribly wrong leaving Sasha with a deep fear of dentists. This trauma made any future visits impossible and forced us to resort to general anesthesia for any dental treatments, turning every visit into a daunting experience.
Faced with this challenge we embarked on a desensitization journey at home. We transformed our living room into a dentist office, used a beach chair like a dentist chair and simulated dental visits by ‘play dentist’.
We ‘played dentist’ daily with Sasha for one year. Initially we could only venture in her mouth for 2 seconds. As months passed, we extended to 5-7-10-12-15-17-20 seconds. After one year we could ‘play dentist’ for 20 seconds without Sasha moving—patience had paid off.
We were ready to take the next step: a visit to the dentist!
10 years after her initial trauma, thanks to this journey and with the help of Sourires Solidaires’ desensitization program, Sasha was able to sit in a dentist’s chair and accept basic dental care. This victory marked the beginning of a new phase for us.
about
sourires solidaires
The idea of Sourires Solidaires emerged in 2016 when Farid and Tasnim, the founders, collaborated with Yvon Leclerc, a pediatric dentist from the city of Laval. In their daily practice, they witnessed the challenges faced by children with special needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds in accessing dental care. This awareness was further strengthened by referrals from organizations, dentists, and other community professionals
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Faced with the fact that the services offered by conventional dental clinics did not meet the specific needs of these vulnerable children, they decided to explore social economy as a solution. LAB (Social Innovation Lab) recognized their work and awarded them a prize.
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The idea came to be with the creation of Sourires Solidaires. Farid and Tasnim recruited administrators from diverse sectors, volunteered on the board of directors and obtained a charity number to fund free care. With the support of collaborators and financial partners, they successfully completed the construction of the community-based non-profit dental clinic in 2018.
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In 2021, Sourires Solidaires, the first community-based non-profit dental clinic, opened its doors in Laval. with the goal to provide adapted access to dental care for all children, regardless of their needs. The clinic started with three treatment rooms and now has eight treatment rooms along with three specialized programs.
specialized programs
This program provides assistance and access to dental care for children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
This program encourages and supports healthy habits for good dental health.
This multidisciplinary program is tailored to support the needs of children, with or without developmental issues, and their parents.
These programs are financially supported by grants, donations, and the involvement of volunteers from various sectors.
Academic Partnerships and Research
Since 2022, Sourires Solidaires has become an internship site for students from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Montreal, allowing future professionals to familiarize themselves with the reality of children with special needs. Additionally, research projects have been established to ensure constant evaluation and improvement of this innovative initiative.
Conclusion
Sourires Solidaires represents an innovative model of community-based dental care, combining solidarity, innovation, and social commitment to provide adapted and accessible care to the most vulnerable children. Through active collaboration between professionals, volunteers, and financial partners, the clinic continues to grow and improve the oral health of the community's children.
CONTACT US
For any questions or comments regarding this guide, feel free to contact us: