The Science of Dental Hygiene: Does the type of toothbrush really matter?
We all know that brushing our teeth is critical to keeping them healthy. In fact, dental science has produced some of the most valuable and unqualified advances in human health, and we’re fortunate to live in a time and place that makes new developments in dental technology reasonably accessible. But as new types of toothbrushes become commercially available, how do we determine which options are most effective? And when we consider this from a public health standpoint, are expensive electric brushes worth the additional cost? In this health-science-oriented Writing 20 course, we will take on these questions and others as we explore the dental science of toothbrushes.
The course will begin with an emphasis on research skills focusing on how to locate the most relevant scientific sources. Next, using select principles of health science research and statistical data analysis, students will practice careful, skeptical reading as they draft and revise reviews of scientific research reports. Then, building on (and citing) the prior work of their classmates, students will craft scholarly scientific essays on the relative merits of various brushing devices. Audiences for student writing will include both classmates and health-science professionals. Note: this course involves a considerable amount of collaborative work; students should have schedules and attitudes that will allow them to work extensively with classmates outside of class time.
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