Requirements January 1975 until January 1998

1. Borrow X-ray photographs. Study the tooth structure. Look for decay. Then:

(a) Use the X-rays as a guide to draw a lower molar. Label its parts and surfaces. Show surrounding structures such as bone and gum tissues.

(b) Show on your drawing where the nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth.

(c) Show on your drawing where bacterial plaque is most likely to be found.

2. Do the following:

(a) Tell or write about dental decay and gum disease and what causes these. Tell what each of the following does: bacterial plaque, sugars, and acid.

(b) Show that you have learned how to teach others the proper use of a toothbrush, dental floss, and disclosing wafers to clean bacterial plaque from your teeth.

3. Arrange for a visit with a dentist. Before going, ask if you can be given a dental examination and a plaque control demonstration. Afterward, ask questions about things you want to know. Then write a report on what the dentist does in a checkup examination.

4. Do TWO of the following:

(a) Name at least five instruments a dentist uses. On separate sheets of paper, draw them, label them,  and explain how they are used.

(b) With the help of a dentist, prepare a dental plaster cast using a vibrator, mixing bowl, water measure, plaster measure, model plaster, spatula, and rubber mold.

(c) Keep a record of everything you eat for 3 days. Circle those that may provide the sugars needed for the bacterial plaque to make acid. List snacks that should not be eaten to maintain the best oral health.

5. Talk about all of the following. Then select one and prepare a written report:

(a) How fluorides help prevent tooth decay. The ways fluorides can be provided to the teeth.

(b) First aid for saving a tooth that has been knocked out.

(c) The ways in which the mouth is related to the rest of the body. Things to be talked about might include chewing, saliva, enzymes, nutrition, and speech.

6. Do TWO of the following:

(a) Make a model tooth of soap, clay, papier-mache, or wax and show proper toothbrushing and flossing to your troop or a school class using a string and a large hand brush.

(b) Make a poster on prevention of dental disease. Show the need for good oral health.

(c) Collect at least five advertisements for different toothpastes. List the claims that are made for each. Tell about the accuracy of the advertisements.

(d) Write a feature story for your school newspaper on proper care of teeth and gums. Show it to your counselor for approval.

(e) Sketch the teeth of different kinds of animals. Show the difference between animals that eat meat and those that have vegetable diets. Tell how they make use of these differences for killing, tearing, shredding, and grinding.

7. Do either (a) or (b):

(a) Study careers in dentistry. What are the different specialties of dentistry and what do they do? Report on what you have learned.

(b) Prepare a four-part outline on jobs in dentistry. Under the headings "Dentist", "Dental Hygienist", "Dental Assistant", and "Dental Laboratory Technician", list the kinds of duties, high school or college needed, costs of education, length of training, and other information to describe these jobs.