Return to Main Menu

Teacher, dentist praised for community research by Cindy Abole Public Relations What happens when you pair the talents of a teacher and former dentist with a fond desire to teach dentistry and science through real-life experiences? The results were bound to be extraordinary for everyone involved including some high school students, classroom educators, dental clinicians and researchers. It’s what happened to James Island High School teacher Sally Nesmith as she  began a two-year research experience pairing her students with applicable research through MUSC’s College of Dental Medicine.  Dr. Sally Nesmith in her biology classroom at James Island High School. Her reward was being nationally recognized by peers and prominent dental researchers for her dedication and commitment to oral health science education. For years, research has linked oral health as an indicator of an individual’s overall health status. This past October, the Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (FNIDCR) announced their annual awards recognizing individuals devoted to improving oral health in America through public policy, patient advocacy and science education. Nesmith was the recipient of the Harold Slavkin Oral Health Science Educator Award. She was honored alongside other awardees that included Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, and MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine chancellor emeritus D. Walter Cohen. “It was my dream to find an opportunity like this and make it work,” said Nesmith. “Of the things I am most proud of in this project is the successful collaboration between James Island High School, the Charleston County School District (CCSD) and MUSC. The project could not have worked without the help and cooperation of so many people. It was a fabulous experience for our students to see real science as it happened.” The FNIDCR is a non-profit organization formed from a coalition of individuals, corporations and institutions supporting NIDCR research efforts and  training that promotes dental, oral and craniofacial health among Americans. An idea in the making The idea was initiated by Nesmith in 1998. A 1981 alumna of MUSC’s College of Dental Medicine, Nesmith found herself teaching in public schools for the first time and loved it. She had hoped she could turn back to her alma mater to conduct a research project with the community. Ultimately, she was led to epidemiologist and dental public health specialist Linda Kaste, DDS, Ph.D., former Division of Dental Public Health director in the Department of Stomatology, now with the College of Dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  Both were seeking ideas in response to the May 2000 first-ever Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health Care in America. In the report, Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., shared results about America’s struggle in improving dental and oral diseases among certain population groups. Nesmith and Kaste recognized disparities among South Carolina’s poor populations, especially children. They considered exploring the oral health status and dental absences among teenagers, specifically at James Island High School. Their results would be compared to the school district’s current policy regarding excused and unexcused absences and whether students were receiving dental care. CCSD policy states that a student may not miss more than 10 days of absence or must repeat a course.  As faculty, Nesmith was able to examine CCSD policy closer and review student absentee records in preparation for the research. But extracting the right information from potentially 1,400 teenage students became the ultimate challenge. According to Nesmith, the gathering process was simplified once she enlisted the right experts and proper programs to gather key information. All that was needed was to assign participants random numbers and make arrangements for the cursory exam. Together, Nesmith and Kaste sketched out the project, consulted with colleagues, and enlisted the assistance and cooperation of teachers, administrators and other experts. Nesmith had easily won support from her own boss, James Island High School principal Nancy Gregory, Ph.D. and the cooperation of co-science teachers to initiate plans. “Sally is so enthusiastic about her work,” said Kaste, who is currently writing a paper based on the project’s dental perspective. “She’s a high energy level person who easily gains the respect from both teachers and students, alike. She has a great approach to teaching and I can see why students are intrigued and willing to work with her on this project and others.”  Just as the project evolved, they submitted a grant proposal with MUSC’s University Research Committee, which ultimately awarded them $19,000 to help fund their efforts. “It was a good opportunity and time for the dental school to finally partner with a public school,” said John J. Sanders, DDS, chairman of the Department of Stomatology. “Nesmith’s connection as an alumnus and adjunct instructor really sparked our interest in supporting her in this effort to examine the impact of dental disease among teens and its connection with absenteeism. It certainly is a first.” A cooperative effort To prepare for the research, Nesmith, took extra efforts to learn more about preparing surveys, biostatistics and epidemiology. She ultimately recruited College of Nursing researcher and biostatistician Yvonne Michel, Ph.D., associate professor, to help with data analysis.  Surveys were administered to about 700 students in spring 2000 through the school’s English department reaching students in all levels from honors to special ed classes. It also insured a greater opportunity for student cooperation and response. The survey assessed an individual’s oral health and dental care. About 300 students participated in the dental screenings held in October that same year. The screenings were performed in Nesmith’s own biology lab. For two days, her lab was transformed to a makeshift dental office complete with sterilized equipment, walls and gowned volunteer dentists and hygienists. The teams performed brief, three-minute exams with patients. Students were evaluated for decay, fillings, missing teeth, orthodontic needs, third-molar eruptions and sealants, normally an indicator for dental care.  The results were compared with student attendance records to find a connection. Their conclusions confirmed that within James Island High School’s population, which ranged from low to high income families, students with dental excuses were indeed missing school because of visits to the dentist. The findings also confirmed that they were not staying home due to dental pain. It was evident that teens with dental absences had good oral health, Nesmith said. They also learned that some high school students had never been to a dentist before.  “Students who have not grown up with dental visits as a part of their health history do not always find their way to a dental office,” Nesmith said. “In those cases, clinics can offer a good alternative and help with the financial burden.” First line in education Nesmith's visit to Washington this past fall was the pinnacle of what she considers a fabulous research odyssey. In accepting the FNIDCR award, she was able to brief national researchers and experts about her many experiences associated with this project. She praised the efforts of all public schools who find effective ways to collaborate within their communities. She also thanked the organization for continuing to honor teachers who promote health and reminded them of the importance of teachers being the first line in education. “Anytime you bring professionals into a school, you’re exposing a population of young minds who are constantly considering their future,” Nesmith said. “In this project, we had school nurses, administrators, teachers, a principal, dental hygienists, dentists and research specialists involved. Every child who participated in this had an experience with these people that they  never had before. To me, this is priceless.” A community model According to Kaste, this project can be a model for any community group, school or neighborhood to incorporate. Tremendous support is found when the research questions come from the community. In this particular project, the issue focused on absenteeism. “I genuinely love dentistry and I am also crazy about teaching,” Nesmith said. “It was wonderful to finally be able to connect the two. Even today, I’m constantly amazed at how often I connect them in just about everything I do.”  “It’s rare to find an educator with her background in a public school classroom,” Kaste said. “But to find one who wants to conduct research and has the time to work with others is truly exceptional. This experience has increased student awareness of science and the scientific method through collaborations. At the same time, it reinforces to school administrators and peers her value as an educator and role model for students as one who has gone beyond the call-of-duty. Receiving this prestigious award provides boosts at many levels for her career.” Nesmith recently received another “boost” becoming one of five teachers in her school and among 73 districtwide educators to receive National Board Certification. Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is the highest credential available in the teaching profession. News of this high honor and the research award hasn’t daunted Nesmith’s efforts to be creative in the classroom. “When you can take science and put it into a context that is real, you bring science alive beyond the book that’s being studied,” Nesmith said. “This experience has really opened my eyes. I know it has enriched my ability to teach these kids about real science. It’s a total win-win situation.” And what about future research efforts? Nesmith hopes to expand this project to ninth-graders. By tracking their dental care throughout their high school years, it will allow her to assess oral health changes and improvements during a four-year period. Nesmith believes a long-term project of this scale will hopefully identify at-risk teens and find proper dental treatment for them. She believes this project will ultimately allow all of her high school students to be exposed to early dental and research experiences.