Young people aged between 14 and 19 in Plymouth have had the opportunity to find out about good dental health and how to become a dentist, at this year’s Summer Mix.
Summer Mix is an initiative designed to raise the aspirations of young people in the city by giving them access to vocational and educational activities over the summer holidays.
The Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, together with staff and students at Plymouth University Peninsula School of Dentistry, ran a day of fun, interactive sessions in Portland Square on the University’s main campus.
About a dozen young people took part and the activities they experienced were varied, including: awareness of sugar in drinks (especially timely given recent news about sugar consumption); details about the various roles of those in a dental surgery, from the dentist to the dental nurse, therapist and practice manager; dental anatomy and erosion (including an experiment with eggs and coca cola); having a go at being a dentist; and general oral health awareness activities.
Nicola Brown from the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise said:
“We were delighted to be part of this year’s Summer Mix. Our day gave those attending some really good, useful information about good oral health as well as practical advice about how to take up dentistry as a career – especially as we have one of the UK’s leading dental schools here in Plymouth.”