DC dental students give those in need a reason to smile

Oral health is important, but unfortunately not everyone has access to dental hygiene and treatment. In an effort to help those in need, DC’s Dental Hygiene program partnered with Health Mission Outreach (HMO), an organization dedicated to providing services to those who are deprived of basic care due to politics, geographical terrain and other adversities, to offer free dental hygiene and treatment at a clinic in Toronto on November 22, combining course outcomes with community service.

“The phrase, ‘people will never forget how you made them feel,’ can be directly related to the Health Missions Outreach,” said Rachel Dods, a third-year Dental Hygiene student. “(We spent) a day helping others, and giving them the opportunity to access dental care that they normally would not have been able to access.”

Under the guidance of six Dental Hygiene faculty members, 42 third-year students donated their time to practise new skills learned in the classroom, screening more than 200 participants and providing treatment to 95 people who might have otherwise gone without.

“I want to thank our Dental Hygiene students, who did not flinch at any challenge presented to help those in need,” said Astrid Stolpmann, a professor with the School of Health & Community Services’ dental programs. “This clinic truly showed how the dental hygiene profession is an integral part of an inter-professional health-care collaborative in the community.”

The partnership with HMO drew upon the skills practiced by students at DC’s on-campus Dental Clinic, where Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting students offer dental examinations and cleaning to clients over the age of four, under the supervision of teaching staff.

For more information on DC’s Dental Hygiene program, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/dent.