Dental students to drill down into new areas

University of Dundee dental students will this week reveal how their future profession is helping to solve crimes, how social media influences oral health and the links between scuba diving and dentistry, among other topics.

First- and second-year students are currently researching an oral health-related topic of their choice as part of Discovery Week, an annual event that challenges students to get their teeth into a range of science subjects relevant to their dental education. They will share the findings of their work through a series of presentations, artworks and video demonstrations on Friday 6 March.

Other subjects being explored include:

• vegetarianism and its impact on oral health
• the environmental impact of dentistry – designing a green dental practice
• the oral health of marginalised groups such as refugees, prisoners and the homeless
• dentistry’s environmental footprint
• how tooth development affects confidence and anxiety in children
• how poor oral health impacts on sporting performance

“The topics that students have chosen to investigate are extremely varied and demonstrate how oral health relates to almost every aspect of our lives,” said Professor Nicola Innes, of the University’s School of Dentistry.

“The aim of the project is to allow students a whole week away from normal learning activities to immerse themselves in a topic they have an interest in. In doing so, they learn the principles of good research practice and more about how scientific knowledge underpins evidence-based care. This acts as a foundation for further self-directed learning and the application of research in their work.

“The presentations that the students produce are always exciting and range from those that appear niche to addressing the major questions facing dentistry in years to come. This involves exploring topics such as dentistry and environmentalism, different perceptions of good oral health in a globalised world, and looking at what robotics, nanotechnology, augmented reality, AI and machine learning mean for dentists and their patients.”