Gretchen Pierce

Mrs. Tillery

3rd period

19 April 2012

Senior Project Speech

(video hook) Hi, my name is Gretchen Pierce and today I will be showing you all

about Down Syndrome dentistry.

When starting my research on Down Syndrome dentistry, I was unsure on what my main

focus should be. In my research paper, I focused on the facts of how Down Syndrome dentistry

related to regular dentistry. However, after finishing my product, I realized that actually helping

the special needs kids with different ways they can keep a healthy mouth was the most vital thing

to focus on. With that being said, my research paper did not particularly tie in with my product

exactly, but I did, however, gain much knowledge on Down Syndrome dentistry as a whole.

For my product, I encouraged special needs students to have good dental hygiene and

helped them learn the ways of staying healthy. I chose to do this certain topic as my product be-

cause I have a strong passion for the special needs kids at my school. They mean the absolute

world to me. Also, with dentistry being the field I eventually want to end up in, this project led

me into the decision that this is in fact what I love, and what I see myself doing in the future. I

cannot imagine myself doing anything else. My product was fairly easy to do because it is such

an infatuation of mine. I had all six students in my peer facilitation class help me make a tutorial

video on how to use proper hygiene while having Down Syndrome. In this video, I instructed

them on how to properly brush their teeth. After I provided them with their favorite color tooth

brush and toothpaste, they demonstrated proper hygiene. In the end, they were rewarded certifi-

cates and goodie bags for doing such a good job! (2 minute video). Also, I have put together

a “Flossing With Friends” scrapbook. In this scrapbook it includes a Terrific tooth coloring

sheet, a certificate of completion, and different photos of them throughout the process of my se-

nior project. Each photo represents one of the activities we preformed as a class when using

proper hygiene. (shortly go through scrapbook).

My project facilitator is Dr. Lewis from Lewis Family Dentistry located near Macedonia.

She graduated from Dental School at the University of Tennessee. I have been an intern at their

facility for a little over a year now, and she has been exceptionally helpful throughout all of this.

She has shown me a lot about dentistry and has corrected my mistakes along the way. I chose Dr.

Lewis because she has a great amount of knowledge when it comes to not only dentistry, but spe-

cializing in Down Syndrome dentistry as well.

With regard to facing challenges, I was actually extremely lucky. I did not have any trou-

bles while doing my research and my presentation with the kids. However, editing and finalizing

my videos did, in fact, take a little longer than I had originally anticipated on. Editing each scene

of the video had its complications when trying to cut the video in pieces in order to still have it

flow smoothly. It took me a total of about three days longer than expected to create and finish

editing my video.

Throughout this process, I have fortunately not only gained a huge amount of knowledge

about Down Syndrome dentistry, but I have also learned a great deal about myself. I now know

going to school to get a degree in dentistry is exactly what I want to do with my life and possibly

specialize in the special needs patients.

In the future, I will be attending the University of Alabama. I plan to double major in

both biology and chemistry and minor in spanish. After finishing my undergraduate school, I

then plan to transfer to the University of Florida’s dental school in order to pursue a career of a

dentist. My senior project was an overall success that has made me into a better person and has

definitely made me appreciate the things I have in my life as well.

Thank you.