October 31, 2008

OSHAWA, ON. – In an effort to assist current and future students of Durham College’s dental programs, as well as enhancing the numerous dental services offered to the public, the college announced today the donation of a Periowave system by Ondine Biopharma Corporation to be used in the state-of-the-art Dental Clinic at the college’s Oshawa campus.

Faculty, staff and students of the Dental Hygiene programs in the Durham College School of Health & Community Services joined Vanessa Gossein, a registered dental hygienist and Periowave clinical trainer from Ondine Biopharma, as she demonstrated the various applications, uses and benefits of the $15,000 equipment donation.

“The donation of this instrument from Ondine Biopharma will not only benefit our students, but will also benefit the members of the community who take advantage of our many dental services,” said Susan Sproul, dean, School of Health & Community Services. “Our students now have another valuable tool in gaining experience with the latest in industry technology and will be able to offer even more specialized care to individuals who choose to receive affordable dental care through the college.”

The Periowave is a photodynamic disinfection system that uses a two-stage process to eliminate the harmful bacteria and enzymes that cause gum disease. Used during the cleaning of a patient’s teeth, the Periowave uses a gel that bonds to the bacteria in dental plaque. A non-thermal soft laser activates the gel and disinfects the bacteria without the use of antibiotics.

Durham College joins 17 other leading dental and hygiene schools from across Canada participating in the Ondine School Grant Program. This allows students to learn first-hand about the benefits of using the Periowave photodisinfection system as part of their regime for treating periodontal diseases.

The effects of the application have been shown to improve healing thereby reducing the chances of recurrent bouts of infection. Infected gums have been found to potentially worsen existing health problems including heart disease, respiratory disease, pre-term low birth weights and diabetes.

The Dental Hygiene program at Durham College offers numerous dental services at a reduced rate to adults and children in the community, including dental cleanings, X-rays, periodontal scaling, oral cancer screenings and fluoride treatments. Services are provided by first- and second-year students and supervised by registered dental hygienists and a dentist in the Dental Clinic, which is equipped with the latest technology.

In addition to enabling students to gain valuable hands-on training before graduation, these valuable community services provide an affordable option for quality care to those members of the public who do not have dental benefits.

The college’s Dental Clinic is open Monday to Friday with evening clinics offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The clinic fee for adults is $25 and it is $10 for children between the ages of five and 13. To make an appointment, call 905.721.3074.

Durham College currently offers high-quality dental programs focused on providing the market-ready skills and hands-on experience demanded by employers. The one-year Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) provides academic studies, clinical practice and field placement opportunities in a variety of dental-related roles, while the two-year Dental Hygiene program prepares students to practice dependently, interdependently and collaboratively with health-care professionals in a variety of practice settings.

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About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for more than 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of 95.6 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact: 
Michelle Roebuck
Communications and Marketing
Durham College

michelle.roebuck@durhamcollege.ca

 

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