SHOWS US WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE. IF YOU’VE BEEN TO SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA, YOU’VE SURELY BEEN TO THE MIGHTY MOUTH EXHIBIT. IT’S BEEN ICONIC SINCE THE 80S, BUT NOW IT’S CLOSING DOWN FOR A MUCH NEEDED TEETH CLEANING. SINCE 1987, MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE SEEN OKLAHOMA’S LARGEST SMILE. THE MIGHTY MOUTH EXHIBIT HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE 80S TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AND EXPOSE THEM TO THE SCIENCE BEHIND DENTAL CAVITIES AND ORAL HEALTH. THE 29 FOOT EXHIBIT, USED AS A PLACE TO CLIMB, TAKE PHOTOS AND LEARN ABOUT TEETH AND ORAL HYGIENE. BUT NOW WE ARE ABLE TO LITERALLY BRUSH OUR TEETH. IT’S GOING UNDER CONSTRUCTION THANKS TO A $1.25 MILLION GIFT FROM DELTA DENTAL OF OKLAHOMA, AND THEIR FOUNDATION, STARS JUST ALIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO COME TOGETHER. FOR US TO DO THIS RENOVATION, WHILE WE DO LOVE NOSTALGIA, WE LOVE ALL THE BRIGHT, NEW SHINY AS WELL. AND THE TEETH WILL STAY JUST WITH ADDED SHINE. PLUS, THERE WILL BE OTHER UPGRADES, MAKING IT MORE EXPERIMENTAL AND INTERACTIVE, EVEN GIVING KIDS A FIRST LOOK AT WHAT GOING TO THE DENTIST IS LIKE. DEMYSTIFYING A VISIT TO THE DENTAL OFFICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I HAVE FOUR GRANDBABIES AND I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE FOR THEM. AND SO BEHIND THE CURRENT EXHIBIT, THERE’S GOING TO BE A SIMULATED DENTAL OFFICE WHERE THE KIDS CAN GET IN THE CHAIR AND, AND, AND PLAY WITH THE INSTRUMENTS AND JUST KIND OF GET A FEELING FOR WHAT IT’S LIKE. SO IT’S NOT SO SCARY WHEN THEY FINALLY GO TO THE DENTIST FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE EXHIBIT IS SET TO REOPEN IN FEBRUARY 2026 DURING NATIONAL CHILDR
Science Museum of Oklahoma’s Mighty Mouth exhibit to close for renovations
The Mighty Mouth exhibit at the Science Museum of Oklahoma is closing for a revamp, funded by a $1.25 million donation from Delta Dental of Oklahoma.
The Science Museum of Oklahoma’s iconic Mighty Mouth exhibit, a favorite since the 1980s, is closing for renovations. >> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelThe exhibit will be getting an upgrade thanks to a $1.25 million gift from Delta Dental of Oklahoma and its foundation.”The Mighty Mouth exhibit has been here since the 80s to educate young people and expose them to the science behind dental cavities and oral health,” John Gladden, chairman, president and CEO of Delta Dental Oklahoma, said.The 29-foot exhibit, used for climbing, photography and learning about oral hygiene, is undergoing a transformation to add shine and new interactive features.”We are able to literally brush our teeth,” Sherry Marshall, president and CEO of Science Museum Oklahoma, said. “The stars just aligned for everyone to come together for us to do this renovation. While we do love nostalgia, we love the bright, new, shiny, as well.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The renovation will include upgrades to make the exhibit more experimental and interactive, offering children a simulated dental office experience to familiarize them with dental visits.”Demystifying a visit to the dentist office is really important. I have four grandbabies, and I know how difficult it can be. So, behind the current exhibit there is going to be a simulated dental office where the kids can get in the chair and play with instruments and get a feeling for what it’s like so it’s not so scary when they finally go to the dentist for the first time,” Gladden said.The exhibit is set to reopen in February 2026, during National Children’s Dental Health Month.Top Headlines One dead, another injured in shooting at northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex Trump pardons Rudy Giuliani, others involved in efforts to overturn 2020 election Senate takes the first step toward ending the government shutdown, advancing a funding bill after weeks of gridlock States face uncertainty as Trump administration tries to reverse SNAP food payments Who are the Democrats voting for the government shutdown deal?
The Science Museum of Oklahoma’s iconic Mighty Mouth exhibit, a favorite since the 1980s, is closing for renovations.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
The exhibit will be getting an upgrade thanks to a $1.25 million gift from Delta Dental of Oklahoma and its foundation.
“The Mighty Mouth exhibit has been here since the 80s to educate young people and expose them to the science behind dental cavities and oral health,” John Gladden, chairman, president and CEO of Delta Dental Oklahoma, said.
The 29-foot exhibit, used for climbing, photography and learning about oral hygiene, is undergoing a transformation to add shine and new interactive features.
“We are able to literally brush our teeth,” Sherry Marshall, president and CEO of Science Museum Oklahoma, said. “The stars just aligned for everyone to come together for us to do this renovation. While we do love nostalgia, we love the bright, new, shiny, as well.”
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The renovation will include upgrades to make the exhibit more experimental and interactive, offering children a simulated dental office experience to familiarize them with dental visits.
“Demystifying a visit to the dentist office is really important. I have four grandbabies, and I know how difficult it can be. So, behind the current exhibit there is going to be a simulated dental office where the kids can get in the chair and play with instruments and get a feeling for what it’s like so it’s not so scary when they finally go to the dentist for the first time,” Gladden said.
The exhibit is set to reopen in February 2026, during National Children’s Dental Health Month.
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