“Our dental hygiene students love kids,” says Michelle Cummins, Lane Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator. The abundant stuffed animals with toothy grins decorating the entry way of the brightly-lit clinic seem to agree. Both the toys and the students are ready for Lane’s free, upcoming Dental Clinic for Kids on March 7th.
The clinic is part of “Give Kids a Smile,” a nationwide event in coordination with the American Dental Association Foundation. Under the careful supervision of volunteer dentists and Lane instructors, dental hygiene students will give children ages 5 to 18 free evaluations, sealants, fluoride, x-rays, and preventative dentistry.
Check-ups like these are vital for more than dental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adults.” Unaddressed dental issues can turn into expensive medical appointments later. Lane’s low-cost dental clinic for the community, and free clinic events, like “Give Kids a Smile,” make preventative care accessible.
The dental clinic is just one example of LCC’s work as the community’s college. And it’s a chance to showcase LCC’s new, state-of-the-art facilities, which was funded by a generous bond passed by Lane County in 2020. The Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs are two of many health professions specialties at Lane where students learn hands-on clinical experience, and the community gains trained graduates ready to enter fields where their talents are most needed.
Cummins explains: “It really supports training our dental hygiene students, with real clinical work experience with children. And it supports our broader model of service-learning.”
Free appointments for kids 5-18 are available anytime between 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 7th, but expected to fill quickly. Interested parents should call the Lane Dental Clinic at 541-463-5206 to reserve their child’s spot today.
Patients of all ages can call the same number to book low-cost appointments during regular hours.
Lane Community College educates over 17,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $675 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 8,900 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.