Dental Hygiene Students Provide Free Preventative Sealants for Children
The Dixie State University Dental Hygiene Program is engaging in “active learning. active life.” by providing free preventative services to children who have limited access to oral care.
Dixie State students, alongside faculty and four local dentists who are generously donating their time, will host a free sealant clinic for children ages 6 to 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 22. Services will be offered at the Dixie State University Dental Hygiene Clinic in the Taylor Health Science Building, located behind Dixie Regional Medical Center at 1526 E. Medical Center Drive. A single sealant can cost upwards of $30 when provided in a dental office, so the free clinic, which is only offered twice a semester, is the perfect opportunity for children without dental insurance to receive this service.
Dental decay is one of the most prevalent oral diseases in the U.S. today, and one of the best ways to prevent it is to apply dental sealants to the surfaces of children's teeth before they are subject to decay.
"To see a child with dental decay is heartbreaking to me because this is pain and suffering that could have been avoided had preventative services been available to that child earlier in his or her life,” Lisa Welch, assistant professor of dental hygiene, said. “It is wonderful that we have this opportunity to intervene and prevent such a thing from happening in the future while helping our students prepare for their future careers."
Walk-ins are welcome, but preference will be given to pre-registered patients. To pre-register, email Cindy Clark at Cindy.Clark@utahtech.edu and include the number and ages of the children who will be seen.
DSU Dental Hygiene students regularly contribute to the community by providing a variety of preventative services, under faculty supervision, for a discounted price at the DSU Dental Hygiene Clinic. The clinic is open to the public and hours are scheduled to coincide with each academic semester. Dental hygiene students have extensive training and have demonstrated competency in clinical services. For appointments or more information, call 435-879-4900 or email dhclinic@utahtech.edu.