A team of three students from the DTU College of Medicine & Pharmacy (CMP) Department of Odonto-Stomatology won second prize at the Smile CoDe scientific research contest, with a new way of modeling surgical wounds.
Tran Gia Bao, from Phu Yen, Le Thi Thuy Duong, from Thanh Hoa, and Hoang Gia Khanh, from Quang Binh, chose the topic “Research into and the evaluation of suture models for oral and maxillofacial surgery,” and developed a product named DTUSimSkin, which received much positive feedback for its creativity, meeting a need, and practical applicability.
Three DTU students win a prize at the Smile CoDe research contest Photo: CMP
Thuy Duong explains that her team surveyed several medical training facilities across the country on the use of wound suturing models for their quality and durability, and discovered a limitations. They then decided to take advantage of local resources and manufacture wound suturing models at competitive prices in Vietnam.
She added: “After a follow-on survey among experts and students, as well as comparisons with other competitive products, we created high-quality suture models with many unique strengths, including true-to-life morphology and anatomical structure, elasticity, tensile strength, and high durability,
Thuy Duong (center) receives second prize Photo: CMP
Local production of high quality, economical wound suturing simulation models is urgently required. The CMP team has developed their DTUSimSkin model to provide students with more practice time, improvements in the quality of education and healthcare, and reducing costs when selecting such equipment.
Previously, the team had achieved many other successes together. They won second prize at the Student Forum at the 8th Dental Scientific & Continuing Education Conference, organized by the Vietnam Odonto-Stomatology Association; a consolation prize at the 2023 Science & Technology Awards, for Ministry of Education & Training students; and first prize at the Student Scientific Research Conference, held by the DTU College of Medicine & Pharmacy.
The three young people share a passion for research and hope to become odonto-stomatologists. Gia Bao explained that he is happy to have chosen a major that fits his personality and that requires meticulousness and a lot of patience. Gia Khanh studies the same major and wants to improve his own oral health and that of others. Thuy Duong personally just likes the quote “You will find that life’s still worthwhile… if you just smile!” and she hopes to encourage everyone to smile more confidently and brightly.
The Smile CoDe contest was part of the 13th International Scientific & Education Conference in Dentistry, jointly organized by the Hanoi Medical University School of Dentistry, from November 22 to 24. Doctors, professionals and lecturers presented modern techniques and advanced materials that could be applied effectively in education, research, and community dental healthcare. The theme of the conference was: “Multi-disciplinary approaches in modern dentistry,” and speakers from the US, Germany, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, and Vietnam submitted fifty reports, including topics on implants, orthodontics, periodontics, occlusion, pediatric dentistry, aesthetics, and endodontics.
(Media Center)