Direct involvement in community betterment is increasingly seen as a fundamental duty of universities. One method of involvement is via extension courses, which are educational opportunities that are open to the general public. We conducted a survey of participants in an introductory badminton program offered as an extension course at Kyushu Dental University. Analysis of survey responses suggested that the three-day program is a pleasant and highly satisfying experience for participants, and that it contributes to lifelong engagement in physical activity. We therefore concluded that the introductory badminton program is a successful example of one university’s efforts to better its overall community.

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Trace elements widely distribute in natural surroundings. They are maintained at their defined amount in human bodies, too. Some of them have been reported to have some relationships with caries prevalence. Saliva, which is produced from blood plasma and is secreted into oral cavity, contains trace elements. Enamel also contains trace elements and releases them through demineralization. In our previous studies, relationship between aluminum elution level from deciduous enamel in acid surroundings and individual oral condition and relationships between some trace elements such as aluminum and copper in mixed saliva of children and their oral condition were evaluated using atomic absorption spectrometry. As results, aluminum eluted more from caries experienced enamel, regardless of filled or untreated, than from sound enamel at pH value of 5.5. Aluminum level was higher in mixed saliva of children who had filled teeth. Copper level was higher in mixed saliva of children who had untreated carious teeth. Moreover, the copper level increased according to the number of the untreated teeth. These findings suggested that trace elements contained in deciduous enamel or mixed saliva of children could be useful parameters to assess individual caries risk of children.

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