IADR Abstract Archives
Engaging Children with Oral Health and Dental Science – the Otago Experience
Objectives: Dental education outreach is important for several reasons. It enables people to make good choices concerning their diet and behavior, and it can: reduce dental phobia; increase interest in pursuing oral health-related careers; and increase the impact from dental research. Staff and students from the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry have tried to increase children’s oral health knowledge and enthuse them about dental science through a variety of hands-on science activities.
Methods: Bachelor of Oral Health students have run a Dental Detectives programme at schools and with community groups. Activities involved: applying fissure sealants to plastic teeth; tooth identification; cross-infection control; using mirrors for indirect vision; and science experiments such as pH testing and the effect of vinegar and fluoride on egg shells. These activities have been funded from within the school.
In addition, staff and PhD students have used Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Unlocking Curious Minds funding to run science activities in intermediate schools. The programme, Making a good impression: From fossils to false teeth, used hands-on impression taking, and casting, of animal teeth to explain the science behind fossils and dental biomaterials. Videos explaining the science behind the activities were posted on YouTube.
Results: Feedback from students undertaking the outreach activities has been very positive (81% loved the activity, 68% considered they learned a lot, and 78% would definitely do the activity again). Teachers at the schools rated the exercises positively; all principals and teachers surveyed would recommend the activities to other schools and considered it had a positive impact on science engagement among the pupils at their school.
Conclusions: Dental education outreach activities are appreciated by school children and teachers. It is difficult, however, to determine long-term benefits from the activities. Time and funding limitations restrict the outreach activities that can be undertaken.
Methods: Bachelor of Oral Health students have run a Dental Detectives programme at schools and with community groups. Activities involved: applying fissure sealants to plastic teeth; tooth identification; cross-infection control; using mirrors for indirect vision; and science experiments such as pH testing and the effect of vinegar and fluoride on egg shells. These activities have been funded from within the school.
In addition, staff and PhD students have used Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Unlocking Curious Minds funding to run science activities in intermediate schools. The programme, Making a good impression: From fossils to false teeth, used hands-on impression taking, and casting, of animal teeth to explain the science behind fossils and dental biomaterials. Videos explaining the science behind the activities were posted on YouTube.
Results: Feedback from students undertaking the outreach activities has been very positive (81% loved the activity, 68% considered they learned a lot, and 78% would definitely do the activity again). Teachers at the schools rated the exercises positively; all principals and teachers surveyed would recommend the activities to other schools and considered it had a positive impact on science engagement among the pupils at their school.
Conclusions: Dental education outreach activities are appreciated by school children and teachers. It is difficult, however, to determine long-term benefits from the activities. Time and funding limitations restrict the outreach activities that can be undertaken.