TANNER — Calhoun Community College has partnered with the Alabama Department of Public Health to provide free dental cleaning services to pregnant women and children under the age of 17.
Services such as dental cleanings, treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis, dental X-rays, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, and teeth whitening will be available in mid-August.
Calhoun’s clinic features state-of-the-art dental equipment to provide one-on-one dental care to the community at a reduced rate. The school started its dental hygiene program last year.
According to program Director Sunnie McWhorter, the partnership will help tackle the growing need for oral care among children and expectant mothers.
“We hope to bring in as many kids and expectant mothers as possible, and provide them with great oral care services before school begins,” said McWhorter. “Dental hygiene is one of those things that gets neglected so often. People assume if they are brushing and sometimes flossing here or there that they are fine, but that is hardly true.
“Seeing a dentist and receiving a professional cleaning is vital, and that is where our clinic can help.”
Students enrolled in senior-level courses in Calhoun’s dental hygiene program will perform teeth cleanings as per their curriculum’s clinical requirements.
Employees of ADPH will perform dental services as well.
“Recent dental hygiene rankings for the United States have placed Alabama in the lower percentile,” said Bret McGill, Calhoun dean of Health Sciences. “This means teaching children good dental habits must begin as early as possible, and that is the primary goal of our partnership with ADPH.”
For information about Calhoun’s dental clinic, or to make an appointment, click here.
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