Dental Hygiene Clinic Offers Free Service for 118 Children

Published 02.07.2006

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Dental hygiene students Beth A. Rembold, of Lock Haven (left)%3B and Jennifer J. Chubb, of Middleburg, work with a young patient on Sealant Saturday at Pennsylvania College of Technology. (Photos by Shawn A. Kiser, director of dental hygiene)Dental hygiene students and faculty from Pennsylvania College of Technology, working with volunteer dental hygienists, provided free oral screenings, sealants and education for 118 as part of the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists' Association's statewide Sealant Saturday program on Feb. 4..

This year's local program, held in Penn College's dental hygiene clinic,resulted in 533 free dental sealants being placed on the children, ages 7 to 15. The average cost to have one sealant placed in a dental office is approximately $30.

Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to seal the pits and grooves on the teeth. The sealant acts as a physical barrier to prevent oral bacteria from collecting and creating the acid environment that allows decay to develop.

Dental hygiene students help a youngster practice flossing in the event's education room."This is really an incredible community health event that is helping address the growing concern with access to dental care," said Shawn A. Kiser, director of dental hygiene at Penn College.

For more information about the PDHA, visit online.

For more information about the academic programs offered by the School of Health Sciences at Penn College, call (570) 327-4519, send e-mail or visit on the Web.