Dental Hygiene Seniors' Outreach Aids 40 Schoolchildren
Published 05.10.2013
News
Nursing & Health Sciences
Dental Hygiene
Student News
Senior dental hygiene students from Penn College treated a total of 40 children and placed 397 sealants during a May 2 community effort involving the Sullivan County and Muncy school districts. "Both the American Dental Association and Centers for Disease Control have identified school-based sealant programs as an effective strategy to prevent tooth decay in children," said Shawn A. Kiser, director of the college's dental hygiene program. "This event was certainly a great opportunity for the Penn College dental hygiene students to give back to the community and help prevent tooth decay with many children." The average cost of a dental sealant in Pennsylvania is approximately $30. Helping to coordinate the Sullivan County outreach, in which 300 sealants were applied to 29 middle school pupils, were Mary Jo Saxe, associate professor of dental hygiene; school nurse Christine Varner; and Dan White, district dental hygienist. Dr. Mary Bennardi, a Muncy dentist, facilitated the application of 97 sealants for 11 of that district's schoolchildren.Photos provided by Kathrine E. Dixon, a dental hygiene: health policy and administration concentration student from Houtzdale