Program supports community while providing students with valuable applied learning opportunities
May 4, 2017 – On May 6 Regina will be all smiles at the sixth annual Dental Day. The event sees Dental Hygiene diploma and Dental Assisting certificate students partnering with the Regina Food Bank and the Regina Open Door Society, to open a dental clinic to those in the community who need a checkup, cleaning and other dental work including fillings, root canals and extractions.
"Dental Day is a unique experience that allows us to reach out to community members who experience barriers to oral health care and hygiene," says Alanah Mueller, Dental Day co-coordinator. "It is not just another school project but an exciting opportunity to help those who need restorative dental care, but otherwise can’t afford it.”
Dental Hygiene students, Alanah Mueller and Cassie Seguin, have been coordinating Dental Day together as part of their education. For the second year in a row, the program is enhanced by the addition of dental hygiene, lead by students Ashley Laturnus and Kristin Jerkovits, to provide dental hygiene care to those in need.
“The dental hygiene aspect of Dental Day focuses on overall health promotion and oral disease prevention. Our partnership with the Regina Open Door Society allows us to provide dental hygiene care to those who can’t access it otherwise,” says Laturnus. “Additionally, dental hygiene provides an opportunity for students to enhance their education through hands-on experience while giving back to the community.”
Media are invited to attend.
| Date: | Saturday, May 6, 2017 |
| Time: | 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
| Location: | Dental Clinic, 5th Floor, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Regina Campus 4500 Wascana Parkway |
Major contributors to the success of Dental Day are the community-based partnerships with organizations and dental professionals. Dentists, dental therapists, denturists, dental assistants, dental hygienists and more than 100 student, faculty and staff volunteers will come together to provide care during Dental Day.
"The support from students and faculty in collaboration with professionals, is very encouraging. This day would not run without their help," says Seguin.
By providing services on a Saturday more individuals are provided easy access to quality oral health care.
“Dental Day provides service to many low income and newcomer families who are in need of dental care,” says Dhaka Tiwari, health facilitator and educator at the Regina Open Door Society. “The partnership between the Regina Open Door Society and the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Dental Clinic has made a significant impact in the lives of newcomers by promoting dental health education, prevention and providing access to much needed dental care.”
The Henry Schein Cares Foundation is donating all the dental supplies required for the dental treatment, and Dentsply are donating supplies that will be used to provide dental hygiene care. The Saskatchewan Dental Hygiene Association (SDHA), Saskatchewan Dental Assistants Association and Surgitel are sponsoring lunch for all participants, and Costco, Starbucks, Sherwood Coop, Safeway, Superstore, GTO Diesel Repair and Fries Trucking are providing in-kind support to the event.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves 28,000 distinct students through applied learning opportunities at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.