Newark High Schoolers Get Exposure to Dentistry
Hands-on symposium with the help of Rutgers students inspires Newark teens to explore dentistry and imagine futures in oral health care
A group of Newark high school students, donned in white coats, spent a day recently learning about dentistry. Under the tutelage of students from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, the high schoolers placed dental sealants, attached brackets for braces and distinguishing between gingivitis and periodontitis.
During a full-day symposium in Newark organized by nonprofit group Planet Smilez, 50 high schoolers from East Side and Science Park high schools delved into the dental profession through immersive activities.
The day began with a symbolic white coat ceremony, welcoming students into the field as oral health professionals for the day. They then rotated through six interactive stations led by Rutgers dental students, where they learned about oral health, its connection to systemic health and common dental procedures.
At the end, the high schoolers received a certificate of completion.
“The idea is to expose high school students who are underrepresented in the profession, plant the seed of dentistry, and get dental students volunteers to help,” said Mary Beth Giacona, an associate professor of pediatric dentistry at Rutgers.
The event is the brainchild of Kathryn Pawlak, a pediatric dentist who founded Planet Smilez as a pre-dental student after realizing the need for oral health education for youth. A New Jersey native, Pawlak wanted to bring her program to the Garden State and received support from the Delta Dental Institute Oral Health Diversity Fund. Pawlak connected with officials at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine with a recommendation from Nashon Hornsby, the assistant commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Health Division of Community Health Services who oversees oral health services for the state.
Hornsby, a former patient at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine when he didn’t have dental insurance, said the school “was available to provide dental care to me and to my family at that time.”
Besides knowing its impact on the community first-hand, he also knew the school’s commitment to expanding access and bringing underrepresented people into the profession.
“This pathway work is about addressing oral health in the context of a bigger concern, and that's the overall health of people,” said Hornsby. “The more people are introduced to that, the greater appreciation they will have for their own personal oral health and for those around them–their cousins, siblings, parents.”
The high school participants were thrilled with the opportunity.
Minal Thakur, science department chair at East Side High School, said students “were super into it, and they really enjoyed the whole experience working with professionals. They had a lot of questions about their careers.”
Sydney Goldberg, a Rutgers student involved in the university’s Dental Scholars master's program, volunteered and was personally inspired by the event. “I think it helps remind students of the bigger purpose to support and inspire our community,” she said. “It was amazing to see dental students so engaged with the children.”
“It was a fantastic experience; one I’m thankful to have been a part of,” said Cole Clapperton, a student at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. “The best part of the event was seeing students’ faces light up when they successfully performed tasks like suturing – watching their excitement as they gained confidence in new skills. It was incredibly rewarding to teach curious students and to help them discover their interest in the dental profession.”
Pawlak said she was deeply inspired by the dedication of Rutgers dental students, who volunteered their time even while preparing for final exams, calling them “outstanding.”
She added, “Our youth participants really connected with them because of how relatable, approachable and enthusiastic educators they were. It's incredibly meaningful to return to my home state and give back to a community with such tremendous need.”