Capstone Proposal: Childrens Dental Health

Capstone Proposal: Childrens Dental Health

Caroline Moran
Capstone B6

Capstone Proposal: Childrens Dental Health

Table of Contents
Brief Summary..3
Benefits and Purpose..3
Passion..3
Audience4
Measure of Success.4
Research Topic.4
Mentor.5
Milestones..6
Design Process.7
Inspiration..7
Citations.8

Capstone Proposal: Childrens Dental Health

Childrens Dental Health

Brief Summary
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children from the age of
6 to 19. Since these are developmental years for children, it is important to teach and
remind them of the importance of dental hygiene. For this to be properly taught, I need
to teach proper habits and shatter myths that follow with teeth health. I hope to shed
some light on the importance of this practice.
Benefits and Purpose
Due to my plans of being a dentist, I believe that this project will benefit me for
the future. It will allow me to properly assess if I would like to go into the medical field,
as well as allowing me to study for my future in dental school. This project will also
benefit the people I work for and children in the area by educating those who need to
know the health benefits and risks.
Passion
My drive for this project is that I have always been interested in some form of the
medical field. Over the past few years I have juggled between studying to become a
nurse, a surgeon, or a dentist. In the past few months, I have found that dentistry is a
field where I could excel in, while still keeping a bit of a challenge along for the ride. As
well as being able to work closely with others, it is a stable career that makes a fantastic
income. My family has a legacy of working in the medical field, and carrying on their
past successes would be an excellent way to honor them as well.

Capstone Proposal: Childrens Dental Health

Audience
I plan on presenting my final project to a group of children ranging from the ages
of 6-11. I will be setting up a presentation before the final showcase that will be tailored
to teaching elementary kids about the importance of keeping their teeth healthy at this
age. This is the developmental age for human beings, and I would like to influence them
with good eating habits and healthy brushing techniques in a positive and fun way. As
well as presenting to a local school, I will compiling my research into fun ways for
children to play and learn with at the office I intern at. My final project will be presented
at the Capstone showcase in May and include a video of my presentation at a local
venue, and the techniques and curriculum I used. For the Capstone showcase, my
audience is those who are interested in dentistry, but my main goal is to educate the
fair-goers on proper care for their teeth.
Measure of Success
My measure of success will be determined by the initial feedback I receive from
the place at which I will give a lecture. There, I will have a survey to be completed by
teachers, students, and/or chaperones in order to see how engaged the students were
in the topic at hand. In the end, I will have wanted to complete at least two presentations
with around 20 children attending each presentation.
Research Topic
The topics that have captured my interest include, but are not limited to,
childrens dental health, the prevention of tooth decay, and how to prepare and
complete dental school. In the outer veins of this subject, I will possibly look into suicide

Capstone Proposal: Childrens Dental Health

rates among dentists, improvements in the practice of dentistry, and how to engage
children in a presentation.

Mentor
Dr. Luczak DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
DDS received at Baylor College of
Dentistry
Masters of Public Health at the
University of North Texas
18 years of work experience
Works at the Dentist Off Main in Grapevine, TX
Pictured to the right, front row,
sixth from the left.
Milestones
Date
October 2016
November 2016
November 2016

Milestones
Obtain internship.
Research Dental School prep.
Get required shots and background checks

November 2016
December 2016
December 2016
January 2017

completed for work in dental office.

First session with mentor.
Outline major points of research.
Research for project begins.
Checkup with mentor on plausibility.

Capstone Proposal: Childrens Dental Health

January 2017

Begin searching for a venue to present to elementary

January 2017

students.
Email schools and coordinate for an official

February 2017
February 2017
March 2017

presentation to elementary students.

Form research into a children-friendly presentation.
Confirm a presentation date for at least one venue.
Receive feedback from Mentor on presentation for

March 2017
April 2017
April 2017
April 2017
April 2017
April 2017
May 2017
May 2017
May 2017

elementary schoolers.
Order supplies to hand out during presentations.
Present to children at specified venue.
Resupply for final capstone presentation
Receive feedback from initial presentation venue.
Receive final feedback from Mentor.
Tweak final project to constructive feedback.
Finalize board and presentation for Capstone.
Meet with Mentor for final confirmation.
Capstone presentation

Design Process
Define the Problem- Tooth decay is the number one chronic illness for children
ages 6-19 in the United States.
Do Background Research- Research on Dental school and general dentistry.
Specify Requirements- Establish proper and fun education plan for children.
Brainstorm Solutions- Talk with mentor and brainstorm multiple ways to present
material to young students.
Choose the Best Solution- Choose what is believed to be the best plan to
educate children.
Do Development Work- Practice presentation skills, work on fun ways to present.
Build a Prototype- Finish initial presentation for kids.
Test and Redesign- Present to Dentist for evaluation before presentation for
children.
Inspiration

Capstone Proposal: Childrens Dental Health

These pictures accurately describe why I want to go into dentistry. They picture
the hands on, scientific, and social aspects of being a dentist.

Citations
Dye BA, Tan S, Smith V, Lewis BG, Barker LK, Thornton-Evans G, Eke PI, Beltrn
Aguilar ED, Horowitz AM, Li CH. Trends in oral health status, United States, 1988-1994
and 1999-2004. Vital Health Stat 11. 2007; (248):1-92.
HHS. Oral health in America: A report of the Surgeon Generalexecutive summary. Rockville,
MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health. 2000.