Dundee University student launches website to raise awareness of the dental needs of patients with Down’s Syndrome
A student from Dundee University has launched a new website to raise awareness of the dental needs of patients with Down’s syndrome.
Rebekah Sadok was inspired to create the site by her brother, Jeremy. Jeremy, 37, has Down’s syndrome and Rebekah wanted to use his experiences and those of others with Down’s syndrome as the focal point for her Master’s degree project. Rebekah, who is from Oregon, USA, is currently in the final stages of an MSc in Medical Art.
Rebekah has always been committed to raising awareness of the implications and effects of living with a disability and she is passionate about trying to achieve better representation for disabled communities. Many people are unaware of the dental abnormalities and complications associated with Down’s syndrome and Rebekah wanted to tackle the subject as part of her studies.
When Rebekah approached tutors at the dental school and floated the idea of using her project to highlight common dental concerns, she was told that this was an area that was largely neglected on teaching curriculums. This spurred her on to use the resource to improve education for caregivers and dental students and raise awareness of the dental issues faced by people with disabilities.
To create the new digital resource, which has been displayed at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design Masters’ Showcase 2021, Rebekah used a combination of animation, 3D modelling and illustration. Jeremy modelled for some of the illustrations and was the driving force between Rebekah’s inspiration for the project. Growing up, her brother was moved from dentist to dentist, with many refusing to see him because they didn’t have the necessary training or skills.
Dental issues highlighted in the project include small teeth, a narrow palate and deep fissures on the tongue.
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