A day at UNAM Dental School

UNAM is ranked number 53 among universities worldwide and the Dental School is an example of quality education and social responsibility, both for the teaching and research they conduct, as well as for being the largest public hospital in Mexico, treating all kinds of diseases.

As head of the Audiovisual Department of the Dental School, Edwards has produced a video entitled "A Day at UNAM Dental School," which in a few minutes explain the main activities of the institution. The video was screened at the opening of UNAM International Congress on 5 May.

"The video chronicles a typical day," said Edwards, 18 years as head of the Audiovisual Department. "The school has 3,000 students, 2,100 of them on campus, studying or doing dental practices in the morning or afternoon."

The video starts at 6 am, when students arrive at the college and enter their first class at 7 am. "We have clinics from 7 am to 9 PM: that's a typical day at UNAM."

The video shows, in addition to classes and practices other student activities, like the library, computer center, the dining hall or students practicing sports, ranging from indoor soccer, to basketball or volleyball. UNAM is a self-contained city in itself.

The dentist added that the documentary also shows activities in places with academic and guidance counselors, where students can go between classes for teachers to help with their doubts.

"Every department contributed ideas, and I recorded the most important aspects of the school, from clinics to the cafeteria," adds Edwards, who said that probably UNAM Dental School is ranked number 60 worldwide.

Love, affection and a love for teaching
Edwards says that much of the reason all this works is because most of the teachers go to work every day to UNAM and offer "love, affection and help", which is corresponded by the students. This, despite the fact that wages for professors are not precisely generous.

Asked about the possibility of producing a video about a book on oral health education for primary schools devised by Dean Ms. José Arturo Fernández Pedrero, Edwards says that books "go directly to the people" because" not all our children have access to computers."

The Audiovisual Department produces a series of educational tools. For instance, they shoot video chapters on basic oral hygiene topics such as how to brush your teeth, which are then distributed to children in public schools.

Edwards mentions successful educational advertising campaigns, such as a Colgate developed ad with a character called "Doctor Castor, a pet with large front teeth, which was hit "and all children brushed and Dr. Castor, or "comedian Chavelo's program on the same topic.

The problem Edwards says is on one hand that these campaigns no longer exist, and secondly that much of the population has no access to toothbrushes or toothpaste due to their economic condition.

The solution, according to Dr. Edwards, is that large companies donate toothbrushes and toothpastes to public schools in underserved areas so children brush their teeth in school.

"Our population is the main problem in Mexico: 117 million people, 17 million of them in Mexico City, with a majority of youngsters and its counterpart in the aging, who also need dental care.

Dr. Edwards said that dental care must focus on both the young and the elderly, with health centers staffed with geriatricians.

"My department also produces videos in chapters for the elderly," continues Edwards, "in an attempt to alleviate this problem, but the only real solution is to get government funding to establish adequate programs to treat the dental health needs of the Mexican population."

Resources
• UNAM: www.odonto.unam.mx