The second edition of the oral health and hygiene programme, carried out by UniCamillus in schools, has come to an end. This year, the focus was on 360 children, aged 6 to 13, from the Istituto Comprensivo Via Poppea Sabina in Rome, located in the Casal Monastero neighbourhood. As for the first edition, from March to May 2023, second-year students of the MSc programme in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, led by Professor Giuseppina Laganà and Professor Roberta Lione, visited the school to run hygiene exams to assess the quality of oral hygiene and general dental health conditions in children.
During the final meeting held on May 30th in the UniLabs building, Room 1, a highly positive account of the experience was offered by our students, who reported that the children were enthusiastic about their involvement in the project. A significant number of young participants were also present, along with their parents and some teachers.
The project has the aim of exploring prevention strategies in the field of oral health, as well as fostering effective dental care and hygiene practices. For this reason, it has been positively received by the families of the children. The parents shared their various daily experiences as well as the challenges involved in conveying to their children the importance of taking care of their teeth. Our students were also able to actively engage with the children, helping them overcome initial fears commonly associated with dental care. The enthusiasm generated by this initiative was captivating for all parties involved and served as a driving force for both children and adults.
The project received unanimous positive feedback from individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds, which are now the norm in the classrooms of many schools. Additionally, the project served as a unique testing ground for UniCamillus students, offering them the opportunity to analyse clinical aspects that are otherwise difficult to address in a classroom setting and to interact with ‘special’ patients. The immense enthusiasm expressed by all the participants in this project gives us hope for the future, as it can provide opportunities for new students and many other children to have the same experience.
