A healthy mouth is not only about teeth: it is also about prevention, quality of life, psychological well-being and the ability to identify vulnerabilities and diseases early. These were the themes at the heart of “From smiles to well-being. Oral prevention and general health among university students”, the event during which the student community was informed about the opportunity to access free dental check-ups.

The initiative, promoted by the Rector’s Delegate for Student Well-being and Inclusion, Vanessa Nicolin, in collaboration with the Single-Cycle Master’s Degree in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, highlighted the commitment of UniTS faculty members to promoting a culture of prevention aimed in particular at the student population.

Following the institutional greeting by Rector Donata Vianelli, UniTS faculty speakers explained how the mouth is not separate from the rest of the body, but rather an important indicator of a person’s overall health, also in relation to quality of life, psychological well-being and the possibility of identifying situations of vulnerability at an early stage.

Roberto Di Lenarda opened the series of talks by recalling the close relationship between oral health and general health, stressing that diseases of the oral cavity are not merely a specialist or aesthetic issue, but a public health matter with significant consequences for quality of life. Central to his speech was the role of chronic inflammation as a possible link between the mouth and the rest of the body, and the need to regard oral prevention as an integral part of protecting overall health.

Along the same lines, Federico Berton, Giulia Ottaviani and Katia Rupel focused on concrete preventive tools that are relevant also to the student population. Berton stressed in particular the importance of daily oral hygiene and cleaning interdental spaces, also recalling the impact that dietary habits can have on oral health, especially in an age group in which the frequent consumption of sugary or acidic drinks can favour enamel demineralisation.

Ottaviani and Rupel, on the other hand, addressed the issue of early diagnosis of oral carcinoma, focusing on the main risk factors and on the importance of screening and prevention, also in relation to the spread of HPV. In this context, they also recalled the importance of vaccination, with particular attention to the need to strengthen information and uptake among younger people.

Milena Cadenaro devoted her speech to dental trauma, highlighting how the promptness of intervention is crucial in emergency cases and drawing attention to correct behaviours that can make a difference in the first stages after an injury. Among the useful tools mentioned during the event was the ToothSOS app, developed by the International Association of Dental Traumatology, designed to provide practical guidance in urgent situations.

With Luca Contardo, the focus shifted to the role of the smile and orthodontics in the psychological and social dimension, highlighting the link between oral health, self-esteem, quality of relationships and self-perception. Giulio Marchesi, in turn, explored the relationship between oral signs and eating disorders, stressing how dentists can help identify at an early stage situations of vulnerability that require attention and multidisciplinary care.

Alongside awareness-raising, the initiative presented to the student community the opportunity to access 200 free dental check-ups, scheduled over four days at the Dental Clinic of Ospedale Maggiore.

The check-ups will be carried out by sixth-year students of the Single-Cycle Master’s Degree in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, under the supervision of faculty members. This approach also strengthens the educational value of the initiative and its closeness to the student community.

UniTS students will be able to book a check-up by logging in with their institutional credentials at the following link: https://moodle2.units.it/course/view.php?id=16528.

Once logged in, each student will be able to choose a preferred time slot among those available on the different scheduled days, with the possibility of changing the booking until all places are filled.

During the event, it was also recalled that the Dental Emergency Service at Ospedale Maggiore remains active for emergencies and can be accessed directly in the event of trauma or acute pain.