It’s that time, again! Del Mar College Dental Hygiene Program offering clinical services “at no cost” this fall semester
Cleanings, blood pressure screenings among several available services
Article by Melinda Eddleman
You’ve been putting off getting your teeth cleaned for quite some time … maybe because the cost of everything else is making it difficult to stretch your budget or maybe because you don’t like going to the dentist. Either way, Del Mar College’s (DMC) Dental Hygiene Program is offering some ways to help Coastal Bend residents smile a little brighter while keeping a little more green in their wallets by offering clinic hours and services at no charge during the fall semester.
The Dental Hygiene Clinic offers a variety of services including medical history reviews, blood pressure screenings, intra-oral examinations, dental preliminary assessments, periodontal assessments, dental hygiene education, oral cancer screenings, radiographs (x-rays), fluoride treatments (as needed), selective polishing, conservative periodontal therapy, dental hygiene therapy and dental sealants.
Services begin Sept. 9 and run through December, but now is the time to sign up due to an extended commitment from patients receiving student-provided services.
The Dental Hygiene Clinic benefits Coastal Bend residents who need services the College provides while also giving our students the hands-on training required to enter the field. As a community service that’s offered at no cost, our students are preparing for the workforce as dental hygiene professionals and providing services that meet certain dental needs among patients who make use of the clinic.
The clinic gives Dental Hygiene students the hands-on experience and required hours needed to complete the program. Students performing procedures are under the supervision of program faculty, and patients’ care usually requires more than one visit.
Patient selection is based on the educational and clinical requirements of Dental Hygiene students. DMC faculty will determine acceptance of patients after a “qualifying appointment” is conducted.
For full details about patient selection, appointments and other pertinent information, visit the clinic web page at www.delmar.edu/offices/dental-clinic/index.html.
The facility is located in Room 125 of Health Sciences Building 1 on Del Mar College’s Windward Campus at 4101 Old Brownsville Road (78405). Access directions and the online campus map. Operational hours are Mondays and Tuesdays 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. as well as Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Appointments are required.
To schedule a “qualifying appointment,” call 361-698-2854 or email dentalclinic@delmar.edu.
Sepulveda noted, “DMC’s Dental Programs have trained professionals for more than a century, and our graduates have staffed dentists’ offices and clinics all over the region. I’m confident that you can walk into any dental care office today and meet a dental care professional who trained at Del Mar College.”
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.
rn