By Stan Goff, Senior Content Editor
More toddlers and infants could soon be headed to their first dental visit if this group of high schoolers has its say. Dozens of aspiring dentists—still in high school—are signing up for a new online challenge to answer the $10,000 question: How can we promote earlier dental care for America’s children?
The Dental Care for All Challenge, launched by NAF on its free KnoPro platform, is now open to high school students nationwide through May 11. The individuals with the best responses will split $10,000 in prize money.
Studies show that a significant portion of the population experiences fear or anxiety related to dental visits. That’s why it’s so important to develop healthy and positive dental experiences early on. Even though the American Dental Association recommends taking children to see their dentist as soon as their first tooth comes through or before they turn two, babies and toddlers are the least likely to visit the dentist—mostly because parents and caregivers don’t realize how important it is to get that process going at an early age. That first visit can set the stage for a lifetime of healthy smiles and overall health. Getting young children on a path for good oral health habits and routines can have a great impact on their health going forward.
NAF Director of Learning Design & School Success Stefanie Hausman said the challenge is open to all students, including those thinking of becoming future dentists or entering the medical profession.
“Dentists are as much medical professionals as they are leaders of the public health community,” she said. “This unique [challenge] presents students with a public health educational issue: Starting dental care as young as possible in American households. While students are welcome to harness their scientific and medical knowledge, this challenge also requires tapping into broader creativity, problem solving, and communication strategies.”
KnoPro is a free, work-based learning platform that enables high school students to tackle real-world problems faced by business leaders, receive expert feedback from industry mentors, and grow their professional skills and resumes while getting the chance to win cash and prizes.
Sponsored by Delta Dental, the Dental Care for All Challenge asks students in grades 9-12 to identify creative ways to get parents and caregivers excited about taking their little ones to the dentist—whether it’s a new product, a catchy marketing campaign, or an innovative business idea. The winning students or teams will win $5,000, second place gets $3,000, and third place earns $2,000. Students can join the challenge by clicking here.
