Together For Smiles
Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Launches “Special Care, Healthy Smiles” Workshops at Texas Tech Health El Paso
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in our Borderplex often face financial challenges and limited access to providers when trying to get the dental care they deserve.
To help address this need, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, with support from the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, hosted a series of oral health workshops last fall. The workshops focused on improving access to care and increasing oral health education, with space for up to 50 participants at each session.
The free, hands-on workshops were designed to give caregivers, families and health care professionals effective strategies for supporting the oral health of individuals with disabilities. Led by faculty dentists and dental students, each interactive session offered tools, tips and training in a supportive environment.
“By training caregivers and providers to practice preventive care at home, we can reduce anxiety around dental visits and help control disease before treatment is ever needed,” said Wilma Luquis-Aponte, D.M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine. “Access to dental care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is very limited. The more we can prevent disease through daily care, the better the outcomes will be when these patients come to the clinic.”
Dr. Luquis-Aponte added that the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic is designed with accessibility in mind. The clinic features a wheelchair lift that allows patients in wheelchairs to remain in their chairs during treatment.
“I work with parents, and many times they need more guidance and resources to know where to go for help,” said Maria Isabel De Rubiera, parent instructor at the Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center. “For us as adults, going to the dentist is something we already know about, but it can still be intimidating and sometimes scary. That’s why I think workshops like this are so important. Parents need to understand that teeth are forever, and the best ones you’ll ever have are the ones you take care of.”
During the three workshops, attendees received desensitization kits containing a toothbrush, rubber gloves, a small dental mirror and other items. The kits help families introduce children to common dental tools in a low-stress way, making the experience less intimidating long before an appointment.
During a recent screen-and-clean event, fourth-year dental students provided cleanings and screenings for cavities and other oral health issues. The event was part of the dental school’s commitment to preparing future dentists to serve the communities they will soon care for, including our Borderplex.
The program is made possible by a Dental Trade Alliance Foundation grant, which has enabled Texas Tech Health El Paso to launch a new pilot initiative consisting of three oral health workshops and one free cleaning event at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine.
Community partners include University Medical Center of El Paso, the Autism Society of El Paso, GiGi’s Playhouse El Paso, The Arc of El Paso, El Paso Mom, Emergence Health Network, the Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center, and the Child Guidance Center.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education.
Focusing on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated more than 2,600 professionals since 2013, including its first cohort of dental graduates in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.