Be honest – have you been to the dentist recently?
Maybe you canceled your last appointment when something came up and never rescheduled, visiting the dentist makes you anxious, or it simply doesn’t fit into your budget anymore. Whatever the case may be, you’re not alone – only around 65% of adults see a dentist as often as you’re recommended to, which is at least twice a year. If you are a currently registered KCC student or faculty member, however, you just might be in luck.
KCC’s dental program offers various services, including cleanings and X-rays, to KCC students and staff completely free of charge.
“But my teeth are fine,” you may say. But as Dental Hygiene student Victoria Dack explains, your oral and general health go hand in hand.
“Everyone knows you should brush and floss your teeth. Many people are unaware how much your diet can affect your oral health. Everything in our body is connected to the mouth,” Dack said. “That is why it is important to take care of the whole body and attend routine dental appointments as well as general health doctor appointments.”
“We have completed several projects within the program. Over the summer semester, we did a mouthguard clinic for the local football teams allowing them to come to the school to have a protective mouthguard made. We also offer free cleanings/dental care to any KCC student,” Dack said. “The most common procedures I have completed in the clinic are non-surgical prophylaxis, x-rays, sealants, fluoride treatments, and mouth guards.”
Dentistry students undergo extensive training during their four semesters in the program, designed to help students succeed in their careers immediately following their schooling.
“Students practice on models and mannequins first. After they meet competency on models, they practice on classmates for the first semester in the program. There is very close supervision by licensed dental hygienist faculty members during this training. Their first patient care appointments are usually the 3rd week of their second semester in the program,” said Dental Hygiene Program Director David P. Smith, DDS.
Not only will you be saving money, but you will provide learning students with invaluable first-hand experience in their field while receiving top-notch care.
“Students have thorough training through treating patients in the clinic for four semesters. Each student has their own dental operatory to treat patients. The hands-on experience is completed under the supervision of a dentist and dental hygienist. Second-year students treat patients three days each week,” Smith said. “KCC’s last three graduating classes have 100% pass rates on the 5 licensing board examinations, and all are working in the field of dental hygiene.”
Going to the dentist understandably makes a lot of people anxious, but the students are committed to providing their patients with the tools necessary to conquer those fears.
“When providing care to an anxious patient as the clinician it is important to stay calm throughout the appointment time. I spend adequate time talking to the patient and explaining what will be completed during their scheduled time and find out what may cause the patient to be anxious so I know their triggers and can find ways to help ease the patient,” Dack said. “Many of my anxious patients I recommend to bring headphones to wear during the appointment to help cancel out the noises in the clinic.”
KCC dentistry students and staff will do everything they can to ensure that you have an exceptional and frictionless experience, as it is a field where the patient always comes first.
“Successful dental hygienists are compassionate about their patients, are detail-oriented, and have good organizational skills,” Smith said. When asked what the number one piece of advice for future dentists, his answer was to “make the patient the focal point of your daily experience.”
As stated before, cleanings and X-rays for KCC students and staff are free. However, even if you aren’t currently enrolled, you can still take advantage of a good deal with their low prices, which are as follows:
- Adult Cleaning and Fluoride: $25
- Child Cleaning and Fluoride (ages 17 and under): $15
- Sealants (per tooth): $5
- Athletic Mouth Protectors: $15
- Custom Fluoride Trays: $15
- Custom Whitening Trays: $15
Dental X-Rays
- Individual Films: $2
- Full Mouth Series: $20
- Bitewing Series: $8
- Panograph: $20
If your next dentist appointment is something you’ve been putting off, this is the perfect opportunity to get that cleaning you’re overdue for while helping the next generation of dentists and dental assistants.
To sign up for your appointment, call 269-565-2008. To learn more about KCC’s Dentistry program and the services they offer, visit kellogg.edu/campus-community/dental-hygiene-clinic.
