Dental Health
Overview
This honor introduces youth to the basics of teeth, oral care, dentistry, and related careers through a mix of classroom learning, hands-on activities, and practical demonstrations. It combines science, practical life skills, career awareness, and Christian service. It encourages better personal oral hygiene while showing how dental care contributes to overall health and how professionals serve others in meaningful ways. It is especially engaging with a qualified instructor who can bring real tools and insights from a dental setting.
Requirements
Instructor required.
Instructors need not be a DDS but should at least be someone who works in a dental office and can either give a tour of a functioning office or bring in lots of show-and-tell items.
1. Explain how a tooth is alive.
2. Which is harder, a tooth or a bone?
3. How many sets of teeth does a human being have over their lifetime? Name the sets and describe when each set occurs and how many teeth are in each set.
4. Draw a diagram of a tooth with the gum and label the enamel, cementum, dentin, pulp, crown, root, gingiva (gum) and bone.
5. Be able to name the following dental equipment and explain their purposes/functions:
- a. Intra-oral Mirror
- b. Explorer
- c. Scaler
- d. Light
- e. Dental Chair
- f. Air/Water/Syringe
- g. Suction
- h. Dental Handpiece and Bur
- i. Forceps
- j. X-Ray Machine
6. With your instructor, discuss the following careers in oral health care. What is the function of each professional? What training and/or education is required? What aspects of each career do you think you would enjoy?
- a. General Dentist
- b. Dental Hygienist
- c. Dental Assistant
- d. Dental Lab Technician
- e. Pedodontist or Pediatric Dentist
- f. Orthodontist
- g. Periodontist
- h. Endodontist
- i. Oral Surgeon
- j. Prosthodontist
- k. Dental Anesthesiologist
7. Using pictures and illustrations, discuss the following oral health issues, what they are, common ways to prevent them, and common ways to address them:
- a. Cavities/Caries
- b. Dental Infection/Abscess
- c. Gingivitis
- d. Periodontitis
- e. Oral Cancer
8. Explain the following dental procedures and why they are used:
- a. Prophylaxis
- b. Root Canal Therapy
- c. Dental Implants
- d. Orthodontic Treatment
- e. Crown
- f. Bridge
- g. Braces
- h. Filling
- i. Extraction
9. Discuss some newer or alternate dental technologies and practices that some consider safer than older technologies and practices.
10. Tour a dental office and/or interview an oral health care professional. Interview questions should include their work routines, education, and what they enjoy about their job.
11. Demonstrate to your instructor the proper techniques for brushing and flossing your teeth. Use disclosing tablets to demonstrate your effectiveness.
12. Using mirrors, provide an examination on your mouth. Examine your teeth after brushing/flossing and make as many observations as you can. Your observations should include effectiveness of your dental hygiene practices, number of teeth, previous dental work possibly visible, positioning of teeth, overall health of the tongue and other parts inside the mouth.
13. Do one of the following spiritual applications:
- a. Write a short essay (250-300 words) on how dentistry can be viewed as a form of service to others, considering the teachings of Jesus about serving others in love and humility. Discuss how the act of helping people with their dental health can be seen as a reflection of Christ’s care for the whole person — body, mind, and spirit.
- b. Actively participate in a health, medical, or dental outreach project assisting medical professionals.
- c. Prepare and give a sermonette using oral care as an illustration.
Answer key & resources
In other territories
The equivalent honor approved by other authorities, with its own requirements:
Adapted from AY Honors/Dental Health on the Pathfinder Wiki, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. See the original page's history for its authors.
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