Located in the Russell C. Taylor Health Science Building, our new simulation lab for dental hygiene students is up and running! Previously used for preclinical work, this lab now provides hands-on experience for dental hygiene students.
Meet the New and Improved Dental Hygiene Department Simulation Lab!
By d00487607
Why the Remodel?
To put it simply, the lab was outdated. And since the building of the lab, equipment has improved, and so has the scope for dental hygiene work.
“We saw an opportunity that would allow us to remodel, and by doing so we were able to expand enrollment,” Brenda Armstrong, department chair and professor of dental hygiene, said. “We increased enrollment by 25% because we were able to add six new spots to the lab.”
So overall, this remodel was necessary to further grow the program and allow more students to learn (which is always the goal here!).
The Remodeling Process
We worked with A-dec Dental Equipment and other companies to develop a plan we presented to our administration. Brenda and others involved knew this would be a good opportunity to improve the lab, and the administration said that they found it important and approved it.
“There is a current national need for dental hygiene, and by growing this enrollment we can meet student demands,” Brenda said. “And at the same time we are increasing access to care by training more providers in the community.
What it Will Accomplish
Part of an education for any healthcare provider is to have hands-on experience before they treat humans. Patients are never the practice; students learn ergonomics on practice mannequins first. Repetition is important for students, and it’s now happening in the simulation environment!
The lab is for students; it’s a great polytechnic model. Students will learn skills on simulation models. By the second semester, they are seeing patients from the community.
“The lab is a place where students can make mistakes, learn, and improve,” Brenda said. “Our goal here at Utah Tech is always workforce readiness.”
This lab is not currently open to the public and is for students only.
For more information on our growing dental hygiene program, read here.
