My Dentist, My Friend is a 12-month collaborative school-based dental program with Head Start.  It is designed to observe Head Start preschooler's (age 3-5) interactions with fourth year dental students and to gauge their comfort levels at their first dental visit.  We hope to desensitize children's fear of dental visits and to prepare our dental students with young patient interaction, build their confidence, and presentation skills.

In addition, dentistry as a career will be promoted (including hygiene and dental assisting) to children who may not have thought about a dental career, which will have an impact at this early age.

Finally, we hope this program will increase proper hygiene instruction, decrease caries (cavities) and increase the children's dental IQ.