Smiles on the go: Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program awarded portable dentistry system
Blinn, Texas Oral Health Coalition, Midwest Dental partner to bring dental services to the community
April 24, 2018
From left to right: Kaye Clark, Dental Products Specialist at Midwest Dental; Bobby McClanahan, Director of Sales at Midwest Dental; Tom Lescarbeau, Blinn College Dean of Health Sciences; and Lisa Wiese, Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program Director, pose with a portable dentistry system recently gifted to the Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program through a partnership with the Texas Oral Health Coalition and Midwest Dental Equipment & Supply.
The Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program can now bring its renowned dental services on the road thanks to generous gift from a public partner in oral health.
Through a partnership with the Texas Oral Health Coalition, Blinn’s Dental Hygiene Program recently was presented with a portable dentistry system from Midwest Dental Equipment & Supply that will allow students and faculty to bring dental services to individuals in the community.
“This new addition to our program will allow us to expand our services beyond the classroom,” Program Director Lisa Wiese said. “Our students will gain valuable, hands-on experience by working with patients in different environments, and local individuals will receive care they may not otherwise have access to.”
Blinn’s Dental Hygiene Program offers year-round discounted cleanings and screenings to the public at the Blinn Dental Hygiene Center, located at 301 Post Office St. in Bryan. During the sessions, which are $20 per person, dental hygiene students provide dental cleanings, x-rays, fluoride, oral cancer inspections, and sealants.
With the addition of the new dentistry system, Blinn’s Dental Hygiene Program can now provide mobile care to local citizens unable to visit the clinic at locations such as at schools and long-term care facilities.
Valued at over $1,500, the new unit features a self-contained water and vacuum system and an oil-less compressor enclosed in a transportation case. This is the second consecutive year Midwest Dental Equipment & Supply has donated a portable dentistry system to one of its loyal consumers.
“Our corporate values really focus on giving back to the community,” said Tom Deighton, Director of Special Markets at Midwest Dental Equipment & Supply. “We are honored to partner with educational and community organizations such as Blinn College to help make oral healthcare more accessible to those in need.”
As a member of the Texas Oral Health Coalition, a nonprofit organization based in Midland, Texas, Blinn is able to collaborate with more than 100 public and private agencies, including health departments, school districts, dental professionals, and legislators, to improve oral health across the state.
“The Coalition continues to be the primary organization in Texas that allows a diverse network of stakeholders to collaborate and create innovative and viable solutions to improve the oral health for all Texans,” said Beth Stewart, Executive Director of the Texas Oral Health Coalition. “We are an active and rich network that strives to make oral health accessible, equitable, and available to all.”
In addition to discounted cleanings and screenings, Blinn’s Dental Hygiene Program has teamed with area dental professionals for 10 consecutive years to provide free dental services to children at its annual Give Kids a Smile event. The program, an initiative of the American Dental Association, provides exams, x-rays, cleanings, sealants, tooth prints, fluoride, and oral health education to local children without access to regular dental care.
The 10th annual Give Kids a Smile was held Thursday, April 5, at the Blinn Dental Hygiene Center.
Registration is now available for Blinn’s May Minimester and the Summer and Fall semesters. For enrollment or financial aid information, visit www.blinn.edu.
