150 students, faculty and professionals volunteer to provide free dental and health services
Students and volunteers came together at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic dental clinic at Regina Campus on April 1 to provide quality health care to 60 clients from the Regina Immigrant Women Centre and Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Volunteers and students completed $47,002 worth of dentistry work.
Over 150 dentists, dental therapists, denturists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, nurses and Sask Polytech students, faculty and staff volunteered their expertise and time. Many of the clients came in prior to Health and Wellness Day for a screening and exam, this allowed volunteers to focus on providing free oral health care on April 1.
“Health and Wellness Day provides individuals with essential dental care and treatment that they may not have otherwise been able to afford or access,” says Robin McKay Ganshorn, clinical coordinator and instructor for Sask Polytech’s dental programs. “This is a day of service and education for the community. Health Sciences and Nursing students are able to use their skills and experience to educate clients on the importance of oral health while gaining practical experience and developing clinical skills.”
“I helped organize the Health and Wellness Day and the health screenings that were completed in advance of the day,” says Madison Markwart, Dental Assisting student. “The advanced screenings allow us to complete treatment plans for the clients in advance so we can be more efficient during the Health and Wellness Day. It’s a great day to be a part of. I want to help people become the best versions of themselves with their oral care. It’s great to put a smile on people’s faces and give back to the community.”
Terrace Tonn, Dental Hygiene student, also helped organize the event, assisted with screenings and helped develop treatment plans for clients. Tonn says, “Health and Wellness Day is important to me as a student and as an actively employed dental assistant. Through my work in private practice, I have seen firsthand the financial burden of dental care and the direct impacts that lack of proper dental care can have on our community. I am passionate about seeing people smile and serving my community which is what Health and Wellness Day is all about!”
“Something we realized as students is how expensive dental treatment is,” says Claire Fischer, Dental Hygiene student. “The Sask Polytech dental clinic offers reduced costs for dental treat, but it can still be costly for some people. During Health and Wellness Day all the treatments are free, which makes a big difference for our clients. Throughout the day clients can also learn more about their oral health, overall health and mental health from nursing and health sciences students.”
Hands-on learning in the dental clinic and at Health and Wellness Day enables our Health Sciences and Nursing students to integrate classroom learning with real-world practice. Under the supervision of licensed dentists and dental hygienists, students get first-hand experience in providing comprehensive dental and hygiene care.
Health and Wellness Days depends on the generosity and financial support of sponsors. Thank you to dentalcorp, Henry Schein, Conexus and Edna Forbes Foundation Fund at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation for their support and to Sask Polytech’s School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing.
The Sask Polytech dental clinic is located at Regina Campus, 4500 Wascana Parkway, 5th Floor. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 306-775-7531. Sask Polytech’s dental clinic is open to the public and available for appointments to clients of all ages. To learn more about the clinic and the services provided visit Dental Clinic (saskpolytech.ca)
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is signatory to the SDG Accord. Sustainable Development Goal alignment is one of the ways Sask Polytech is leading the rise of polytechnic education.
Published March 2023.