Confederation College dental hygiene students give back to community

Dental hygiene students at Confederation College scraped and cleaned for free on Friday.

Students took part in the second annual Gift from the Heart campaign, waiving normal fees to provide cleanings and other routine dental services at no cost to help support those who might not normally be able to afford oral care.

Samantha Mueller, a third-year dental hygiene student, said it’s important to give back, adding it’s much more than a one-day affair.

“We have other programs and courses dedicated to community health and giving back to the community,” Mueller said.

“Every little bit that we can do to help is beneficial, not only for the community, but for our learning and the whole scope of oral health.”

At the clinic, patients don’t just come in for a cleaning. They are taken through their medical and dental history.

“And we’ll make a care plan that’s based specifically to them and treat them for maybe stains from coffee or tobacco and we’ll be removing deposits – old food debris and plaque – and then what we’ll do is make goals for each client,” Mueller said.

“We’ll talk to them about those goals to help better their oral health and overall health.”

Neglecting dental care can lead to a host of other health problems, said Ruth Bushby, the dental-clinic administrator at the college.

“People who have active periodontal disease, they are at higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke. Diabetics have a harder time controlling their blood sugar if they have active periodontal disease. Pregnant mother are at higher risk if they have active periodontal disease at having premature labour and having low-term berth rates,” Bushby said.

Poor oral health can also affect the lungs and lead to respiratory diseases.

Financial barriers shouldn’t be an obstacle to dental health, Bushby added, noting there is a growing population in Thunder Bay who simply can’t afford a trip to the dentist.

The clinic, which charges between $15 and $30 per appointment, or $50 for a family visit, tries to cut down those costs considerably.

“We can provide affordable service to the community and in return we ask the client donate their time and be dedicated to the student, contributing to their education. Without the clients they can’t meet their educational requirements,” Bushby said.

To book an appointment at the John Andrews Dental Clinic, phone 475-6436.