CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A nonprofit that serves children with special needs partnered with a pediatric dentistry is to host a dental workshop on Sunday afternoon.

Pathways Center creates social events for children with special needs that also involve children without disabilities. 

Executive Director Deanna Williams said the event at SouthPark Pediatric Dentistry aimed to promote healthy dental care and help minimize children's anxiety when going to the dentist.

According to Williams, many of the children with special needs they serve take medicine that can be damaging to their teeth or have teeth sensitivity issues.

“We try to promote creating relationships with the dentist that can help educate the parents on ways to get their children to wash more and to help ease the anxiety that all children feel when going to the dentist,” Williams said.

On Sunday, two SouthPark Pediatric Dentistry dental assistants gave a presentation to children about visiting the dentist.

They started the workshop by reading a ‘Dora the Explorer’ book that explained what to expect when going to the dentist. In addition, they showed children the tools dentists to clean their teeth.  

Angeliki Scoumis who does marketing and communications for SouthPark Pediatric Dentistry said the presentation wanted to show children going to the dentist can be fun.

 “It gives children the opportunity to touch, feel, and see these tools without being in the dental chair, so that way when they experience them during their exam is a lot less intimidating,” Scoumis said.

Scoumis added that visiting the same dentist every six months can also help children to feel at ease.

Williams knows building a long-term relationship with a provider can make a difference. It helped her son with autism overcome his fear of going to the dentist.

Zondra Moss is still trying to make her 19-year-old daugher ShaQuay more comfortable during her visits to the dentist.

ShaQuay has cerebral palsy and becomes very anxious when visiting her pediatric dentist.

 “Dental care is nerve-wracking for anybody, but when you have a child with special needs is even more nerve-wracking,” Zondra said. “It’s that fear of somebody being in her mouth, it’s that reluctance, not wanting to open up or turning her head.”

Zondra hopes the event can help ShaQuay in the long run.

“Having events like this and being able to expose her to what it looks like and what it feels like, it will help her,” Zondra said.

The workshop was open to all children.  

If you would like to learn more about Pathways Center, click here.