WUICD Launches "Bright Smiles for Kids" Project at Ratchawat Witthaya School to Promote Youth Oral Health
On July 8th, the Division of Pediatric Dentistry under the Department of Preventive Dentistry at the International College of Dentistry, Walailak University, organized an on-site activity for the public relations media creation project titled “Bright Smiles for Kids” (Noonoi Fan Suay) at Ratchawat Witthaya School. The initiative aimed to disseminate oral health education and provide basic oral health screenings for students.
As dental caries and periodontal diseases remain prevalent among school-aged children in Thailand—directly affecting their growth and quality of life—this project was established to address these challenges. Led by Dr. Ann Jiarajittalert, the project leader, the initiative was supported by a team of specialized dental faculty members, including Dr. Sirisan Chariyapongpaiboon, Dr. Premruedee Pathomkasikul, and Dr. Panarat Rattanaworawipa, along with 5th and 6th-year dental students and college staff.
The atmosphere of the event was filled with joy and valuable knowledge. The senior dental students engaged closely with the children at Ratchawat Witthaya School through various educational activities. Key topics included proper tooth brushing techniques and choosing the correct amount of fluoride toothpaste according to age. Educational media and practical guidance on post-treatment self-care were also distributed to both children and parents to build a correct understanding. This included care after tooth extractions, maintaining space maintainers, and essential precautions following local anesthesia. In addition to providing education, the faculty and student team performed basic oral health screenings for the children.
This project not only fosters sustainable oral health among local children and builds a strong cooperative network between the college and local schools, but it also plays a crucial role in supporting clinical education. It offers 5th and 6th-year dental students vital opportunities to practice examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, and communication skills with pediatric patients under the close supervision of expert dental faculty.
