UC Dentistry Students Treat Nearly 100 Children In Kindergartens
60 students assisted boys and girls belonging to the kindergartens of the UC Casa Central, San Joaquín and Oriente campuses, who underwent simple oral health exams and free fluoride application.
In a colorful room, a group of boys and girls jump and sing along with their educators, while UC Dentistry students quietly prepare to perform dental care. Both groups will live an unprecedented experience: “This is quite a challenge, because many of the children will have their first approach to the dentist. In addition, for our students, due to their curricular progress, it will be the first direct care for patients”, acknowledges the UC Dentistry academic, Dr. Claudia Véliz.
The students, teachers and kindergarten educators know that it will not be easy. “It is necessary to have a very good management to avoid fear”, comments the UC Dentistry academic, Dr. Cynthia Cantarutti , who is in charge of the third-year Public Health course, together with the doctors, Patricio Palavecino , Javiera Peña and Claudia Véliz .
“I had to apply fluoride to four children. They behaved incredible, they were very happy, and it made me get closer to what my work line will be in a couple of years” – Javiera Salvo, Dentistry student
However, it was easier than they expected. “It was a beautiful experience”, says the emotional student Javiera Salvo. “I had to apply fluoride to four children. They behaved incredible, they were very happy, and it brought me closer to what my job line will be in a couple of years, ”she adds.
The course of 60 students was divided to care for about 100 boys and girls belonging to the kindergartens of the Casa Central, San Joaquín and Oriente campuses of the UC, who underwent simple oral health exams and fluoride application free.
The establishments receive the sons and daughters of university officials and academics, so “with this we contribute, first of all, to strengthening the oral health of our UC community,” says Dr. Patricio Palavecino. “In addition, with this we support fathers and mothers who often do not have the time to take their little ones to a specialist,” he adds.
According to the students, one of the difficulties was “not having some techniques incorporated for cases in which the children were more timid or a little more self-conscious”, says Javiera Salvo. “The teachers took it upon themselves to teach us at that minute. We look for methods like ‘speaking in their language’, so that they are not scared, so that they feel comfortable”, she adds.
“There are children who accept it immediately, sit down, laugh, participate and want to, but there are others who are more timid, who find it more difficult. There, the educators help us a lot by talking with them and giving them confidence,” says Dr. Claudia Véliz.
During every Friday in June, 20 students came to one of the gardens. While the intervention was being carried out, the other 40 “advanced in self-instruction capsules with course content and group work” online, says Dr. Canturutti. “I had never had any type of interaction with real patients, much less with children, so participating was very enriching for my learning”, says the future dentist, Javiera Ronco.
A unique approach
Before the visit of the UC Dentistry students, Dr. Cynthia Cantarutti visited each kindergarten. While chatting with the children, she showed them a “cuddly stuffed dinosaur that is designed specifically for these activities,” she says.
The little dinosaur –which replicates the size and shape of children’s teeth in its mouth– was observed by the children, who analyzed the details through a dental mirror; they used a cotton turtle to dry saliva, they learned about fluoride, in addition to some protective equipment such as a clinical suit, mask, gloves and cap. “Here the children experience that the dentist is friendly, that he can be entertaining and that they can take care of their teeth,” says teacher Cynthia Cantarutti.
For the academic of the course, Claudia Véliz, these interventions break down barriers because “here they are with their peers, in their daily space, among toys, friends and aunts, who are people they know. So it makes the children’s behavior and disposition much better, making exams more successful. It is very likely that if this group of children are taken to the dental box, they will not behave as well as they do here”.
“They were very happy and expectant waiting for their dentist friends,” says Maribel Durán, preschool educator in charge of the kindergarten on the UC East Campus. “The Dentistry students and teachers were very kind, they spent time with each of the children, who had the chance to explore, talk and later carry out the procedure in a calm way”, she adds.
“Here (the children) are with their peers, in their daily space, among toys, friends and aunts, who are people they know. So it makes the behavior and disposition of the children much better” – Claudia Véliz, UC Dentistry academic
Although in the three kindergartens the children brush their teeth after each meal, and the educators promote oral health care, Marcela Muñoz, director of the Casa Central UC establishment, acknowledges that “education on this subject is not much , that there is ignorance, and these instances make children and their parents aware that these issues should not be seen only when we are old and there are cavities, but from when we are very young.
Initiatives like these are part of the public commitment of the UC School of Dentistry, which seeks to “stop thinking about dentistry only through the dental box, but as professionals we can go out to support the community so that oral diseases can be prevented,” he says. Dr. Cantarutti.
“I have always considered it very important to do these kinds of activities that are outside of the classroom,” says the excited student Javiera Salvo. “This way we manage to learn a lot, we put our knowledge and skills to the test. Also, our career requires contact with patients and this makes us get closer to them and be better professionals”, she adds.