School-based prevention rotation to distribute over 400 electric toothbrushes to Roy Cisneros Elementary students

Kristen Zapata

December 14, 2020

Nearly four hundred and fifty students at Roy Cisneros Elementary School, part of the Edgewood Independent School District, will be able to take home electronic powered toothbrushes thanks to a donation by Proctor and Gamble, facilitated by Juanita Lozano-Pineda, DDS, MPH, associate dean of external affairs, and Nora Olivo, academic programs coordinator for the Hispanic Center of Excellence.

Each term, second year dental students and senior nursing students complete a school-based prevention rotation by visiting the local elementary to teach good habits in oral hygiene and nutrition.

The rotation module, directed by Moshtagh Farokhi, DDS, MPH, MAGD, FADI, FICD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, looked very different this year due to precautions against COVID-19. Dental and nursing students provided instruction virtually instead of in-person to children from pre-K to 5th grade.

Traditionally, the School of Dentistry sponsors a goodie bag for the children containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and an oral hygiene sticker. This year, the children will be able to receive an age-appropriate electronic toothbrush as well.

Dr. Farokhi ensured the safe arrival of the toothbrushes and toothpaste by individually packaging them and personally delivering the donations to Roy Cisneros Elementary School.

In response, the Cisneros Elementary students sent a wealth of creative, hand-drawn notes to the School of Dentistry in a heartwarming show of gratitude.