New England Center for Children Announces Plans to Build State-of-the-Art Dental Clinic on Campus

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. - Dec. 5, 2022 - PRLog -- The New England Center for Children^® (NECC^®), a global leader in autism education and research, has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art dental clinic operated by New England Dental Group (NEDG) in its school in Southborough.

The clinic will provide on-site dental services for NECC students with autism as an expansion of the Smigel Supersmile^® Dental Program - a dental desensitization protocol that helps prepare children with autism for dental visits. Plans were unveiled at the 2022 Children of Promise Gala, in which NECC raised a record $1.29 million.

"Going to the dentist is stressful for lots of us, and when you consider the additional challenges children with autism face, it can lead to oral health disparities among children with autism," said Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, executive director of NECC Southborough.

The Smigel Supersmile^® Dental Clinic, NECC's new in-school dental clinic that will serve the school's 121 residential students, is the latest innovation in NECC's mission to transform the lives of children with autism. NECC researchers saw a problem – that dental visits were difficult, if not impossible, for children with autism. They found a way to teach the students one step at a time until they could tolerate going to the dentist, a life-skill curriculum that is now taught around the world where autism educators are using NECC's curriculum through their ACE ABA Software.

There are oral health disparities among children with autism as the severity of problem behavior prevents some from successfully tolerating oral examinations and procedures. Dental appointments are resource intensive when students and staff need to travel up to an hour each way to visit a dentist who specializes in treating patients with special needs.

The Smigel Supersmile^® Dental Clinic solves these problems and is tremendously impactful. Dental services will be provided by New England Dental Group, the presenting sponsor (https://www.necc.org/meet-new-england-dental-group/) of the Children of Promise Gala.

The Smigel Supersmile^® Dental Clinic operated by New England Dental Group is slated to open in spring 2023.

About The New England Center for Children

The New England Center for Children^® (NECC^®) is an award-winning autism education center and research institute. Committed to creating a world where autism is not a barrier to happiness, growth, and independence, our community of teachers, researchers, and clinicians provide comprehensive services including day and residential programs, partner classrooms in public school , consulting , and the ACE^® ABA Software System. The New England Center for Children is based in Southborough, MA, and operates a center in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Learn more at www.necc.org.