Beyond Brushing and Flossing at Liberty Science Center

There was dental trivia, pirate's gold and a Pin the Filling on the Tooth game at RSDM's visit to Liberty Science Center in Jersey City this month.

For nearly 20 years, students have been visiting the center to educate the public about oral healthcare. The visits, part of the school's community service requirements, provide a chance to reach up to 1,500 people, said associate professor Debra Goldsmith.

"We have about 20 tables of dental materials, everything from oral cancer awareness to dental health during pregnancy,'' said Goldsmith. "We touch all populations but we gear the event to children.''

This year, students chose a pirate them for the day to complement the center's exhibition of artifacts from the Titanic. When it came to activities, RSDM volunteers got creative. At one station, children could pretend to be dentists during a patient check-up with a maniken. They used the tools of the trade: a dental explorer and mirror.  "We try to make it really fun for the kids,'' said third-year student Cody Ching. "We don't just want to sit there and go, 'brush your teeth twice a day.'''

In addition to educating children and their parents about oral health, the students hope to lower the anxiety level for those who might be dental phobic.

"We try to make it unintimidating, so they don't have any fear,'' said Ching.

Also helping out at the event were volunteers from Delta Dental and the Hudson County Dental Society.