Methods: Working in small groups, dental hygiene students were required to develop resources and implement and evaluate a community based oral health promotion program, directed towards children aged four to five years. Students worked with a Project Business Plan template developed by the Centre of Oral Health Strategy, using the National Oral Health Plan ‘Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives', NSW Oral Health Strategic Directions and NSW ‘Messages for a Healthy Mouth' as a basis for their program.
Results: In the past two years, thirty four preschools in the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney regions have been visited, with over 1360 children benefiting from an oral health promotion program. Student project evaluations demonstrated an improvement in oral health knowledge for both children and pre-school staff and reflective reports indicate positive experiential learning for the students. Course evaluations indicate that over 80% of students had improved knowledge on the topic and were satisfied with the field work component of the course.
Conclusions: Oral health promotion curriculum works to develop continuing relationships with the broader community, positively promoting dental hygiene and benefiting the health of a high needs group. This opportunity allowed the students to gain valuable experience in developing all aspects of a community-based oral health promotion program.