To most of the people brushing their teeth may seems to be a commonplace issue which everybody can handle, but in fact, several problems of the oral cavity are caused by the use of not appropriate brushing techniques. Caries is not the only example, but even injured gingiva is a common outcome of mistakenly learned brushing manners
Many myths and half-truths about brushing the teeth exist and we have been learning these mistakes since childhood. As a result not only children, but especially a quite high number of adults using the inept and sometimes even dangerous and health-threatening techniques. Thus it would appear to be very important and necessary to show and explain to people how to use right dental tools in a gentle but effective way and motivate them to take care about their oral health.
We, dental students, being future dentists are also aware of the importance of prophylaxis and we want to contribute some effort to protection of the health even before we would become dentists with our own practice.
There are some preventive programs and campaigns focused on oral health and reaching the public but there are some common patterns that prevent them from having a much wider impact – as shown in some latest market surveys. The most common trait of these campaigns is too obvious commercial aiming (we do not disapprove the commercial aspect here but we suggest – along with some helpful advice provided by experts from the advertising field – to use more civil and sophisticated tacticts (other suggestion: strategies) and project setup all over to avoid these common problems). Another reason of slightly decreasing public interest (an thus campaign effect) of preventive agenda lies upon not too much attractive forms. Most of these preventive programs are too casual and too predictive to draw up more serious media or public attention.
The preventive project Healthy Tooth In The Healthy World is programme that would be able to draw this attention and thus to have wider impact. We have been testing and correcting this project for three years now in Czech Republic and the outcomes are very much promise for the future. Now we would like to apply this successful model on the international level. Preventive project Healthy tooth in the healthy world should be focused at common people and should meet worldwide attention.
Brief description of the Healthy tooth in the healthy world
The main finale of the every-year programme is the International day for tooth care – which we would like to claim as a part of the project (expected term in April). On that day the identical programme will be taking place in every participant city and town.
The programme of the main event:
Students (dressed in white cloaks) are spreading the city. They have informative desks placed at the main spots of the city (main city square, main boulevards etc.). They are addressing the passers-by with offering a short demonstration of accurate brushing techniques and tooth care. Those who accept this offer are instructed by students how to perform oral hygiene appropriately. The instructions are provided on plastic models of oral cavity but people are also offered the brushing techniques to be shown and explained right on them. Those who would accept such on offer would be awarded by small presents – dental tools (tooth brush, tooth paste etc.).
The students will obtain the skills and knowledge needed for project at the special worshops held in their local places. There would be three workshops focuced on different skills (toothbrushing techniques, communication skills, organization issues). Thus students will be awarded not only by unique experience but also they would get some additional education in their field of study.
The International day for tooth care (IDFTC) programme is, as mentioned above, the main part of the whole project. The day would be accompanied by supportive actions months and weeks before. These small acts will be held to gain the public attention for IDFTC. Namely it would be consisting of media campaign – PR articles, press release, interviews with dentists, then the advertising at public places (e.g. public transport). A week before the Day participating students are obliged to organize local press conference at every city hosting the IDFTC programme where the whole project, its goals and benefits would be presented both to media and local city officials. The media outcomes (TV reports, newspaper arctiles, interviews) before the Day as well as during it will be then presented and placed at special website. The whole project is planed as annual – the programme would become traditional way for dental students to promote oral health.
Potential and the opportunity of the project Healthy tooth in the healthy world
- The project model had been already tested by three successful years in Czech Republic
- Functional model for preventive project will be easily co-ordinated by IADS itself.
- The national co-ordinators would come out from national student organizations and they would be in charge to organize the local IDFTC in accordance with unified rules of IADS.
- On the basis of international preventive programme we would be able to officially initiate the declaring of the International day for oral health.
- National co-ordinators would be also responsible for engaging, proposing and choosing local partners.
- Completely prepared, unified and coordinated project could be easily transfered to any other new participant country or city – the main communication channel between co-ordinators and IADS is internet and the project web space, where each participant country and its students would find all important information – including protocol documents, visual style etc.
- Basic conditions, engaging the sponsorship and partners, manual for communication project procedure and methodology will be proposed and created by experienced communication agency.
- The project budget is founded by sponsorship of partners chosen at several levels (via sponsorship manual) and would also serve to financially support activities of IADS.
- There is already enormous interest of international companies and thus sponsors even after it had been only presented in Czech republic and even more interest is expected when the project becomes international.
Main benefits for the students
Communication skills
The communication between dentists and their patients is far long time underrated area in education of dentists students. Nevertheless the skill in communication with people, ability to discuss their health problems is often is the crucial element for successful private practice carrier of young dentists. Not only expert knowledge but also the ability to pass this knowledge on common people seems to be key factor to become successful dentist. Unfortunately while dentists are growing up since the very beginning of their studies at their faculties surrounded by the expert area, their abilities to expand and to talk with patients are often very limited. Which sometimes leads to impaired image of dentists and dentistry over all.
- The project gives a great opportunity for students to try and learn communication skills and to put their theoretical knowledge to use.
- Students will experience the role of an expert for the very first time
- Students can experience unexpected behavior of people – like impatience, shyness, doubt, suspense – and learn how to handle these situations. That will have the opportunity to try and learn how people would react to them and how to set up friendly atmosphere to give these feelings away.
Organization skills
Due to the demanding nature of thedental university it´s students have no or very rare opportunity to learn skills required for setting up and arranging various events (in sharp contrast to students from social sciences for example) – dealing with media and PR sector, getting in contact and communicate with state and town officials, celebrities, sponsors and partners etc. Again, these abilities are very important parts of being a successful dentist both in state or private area.
- While organizing the IDFTC the students will be working with officials, the authorities, as well the other students abroad. The organization of such an event under supervision of IADS and the agency will be a great experience for future engaging not only in dentists community but in civil society all over.
- Students gets in contact with media. They will learn how to gain media support, PR. How to deal with media, how to write press release, to organize press conference. Which again would be very useful in their professional carrer – in other student, dentists organizations – in hospitals, private clinics, or in their private practice.
- With partners, negotiating the terms etc. Although it will not be the student´s part in the project to obtain the financial means needed for the project budget, they would be engaged and supported to communicate with local sponsors and partners.
Networking
- Students will get in contact with other students groups on local, national and international level and would allow them to share the experience with others and of course to obtain important contacts for the future projects, professional relationships etc.
Chairman of the Prophylaxis Committee
Petra Horáková
prophylaxis@iads-web.org
