Felt Tooth Making Night | Graphic by Rose Taylor | The Wright State Guardian
The Pre-Dental Chapter at Wright State University hosted a volunteer event on Nov. 4 to make felt teeth and donate them to children at St. Vincent de Paul’s Hospital.
About the event
This event was another one of the many volunteer events hosted on campus. Students could stop by to participate in the craft and enjoy some free snacks.
Jessica Nguyen, a school of medicine student, put this event together. She bought all the necessary supplies, including felt, stuffing and markers for decorating.
“I love events like this because they’re always a great way to meet new people, whether they are dental students interested in joining the chapter, or just other students,” Nguyen said.
She gave a step-by-step tutorial over a projector to all students who attended, showing exactly how to stitch their own felt tooth.
The tutorial was easy to follow and everyone who participated learned how to do a blanket stitch to complete their teeth. After they finished sewing, they could decorate them how they chose, making each tooth unique.
Once the tutorial was finished, students could decide if they wanted to make another tooth or simply enjoy the community of fellow dental students.
What is the Pre-Dental Chapter?
The Pre-Dental Chapter is a subgroup of the Pre-Health Society focused on undergraduate students interested in attending dental school after graduation.
Most students interested in becoming dentists require more education than just a four-year program. The chapter helps give them more information to better prepare them for further education.
The WSU Dentistry page shares information on the requirements of dental students, furthermore showing the need for community among students.
“Dental schools are doctoral-level programs and are four years in length. Becoming a recognized specialist usually requires from one to four years of additional training beyond the dental degree,” the website reads.
Volunteer impact
Although this event was a great opportunity for dental students to come together and enjoy time with one another, volunteering was the focus of the event.
The Pre-Dental Chapter has partnered with St. Vincent de Paul Hospital for past volunteer opportunities. Last semester they found out the kids did not receive many visitors, so Nguyen wanted to set up an event that would allow them to go be with the kids.
Members of the Pre-Dental Chapter will go to the hospital with the tooth plushies to hand them out to the kids. In addition to this, students will give kids a presentation on proper dental hygiene, giving them crucial information they might not receive from anyone else.
Jaylyn Albers, a biological sciences major in the chapter, shared how events like this have had an impact on her.
“I think it’s very important to be able to hang out with the kids. We can give their parents a break and have an impact on families. I also like being able to spread our knowledge,” Albers said.
Not every kid has access to dental care or education and this event was a great way to not only raise kids’ spirits but educate them on how to better take care of themselves.
