Volunteers needed to help dental hygiene students
Published 8:53 am Friday, January 31, 2014
- ODS College of Dental Sciences student Madison Garcia adjusts x-ray equipment in preparation for taking pictures of a patients teeth. The ODS College of Dental Sciences in La Grande is looking for 46 volunteer patients in need of a cleaning who are also willing to help a dental hygiene student take a step toward beginning their career. (CHRIS BAXTER/The Observer)
The ODS College of Dental Sciences in La Grande is looking for 46 volunteer patients in need of a cleaning who are also willing to help dental hygiene students take a big step toward beginning their career.
The volunteers are needed to help students with the clinical board exams they must pass to become licensed dental hygienists. The students, when taking their exams, must demonstrate their skills with a patient who meets certain criteria and has agreed to travel to the site of their testing location. Testing sites include Salt Lake City, Boise, Idaho, and Salem.
Each candidate seeking to assist a dental hygiene student must be at least 18, have a significant calculus buildup on their teeth and minimal tooth decay.
“This typically means that the patient has not received a professional dental cleaning in five or more years,” said Regina Kruse, the clinic supervisor at the ODS College of Dental Sciences.
Patients participating in a board exam will receive a dental cleaning, X-rays, a limited dental exam, stain removal and a fluoride treatment, all free of charge
“The patient will receive the equivalent of $200 worth of services,” Kruse said.
The ODS College of Dental Sciences has 23 students who will need volunteer patients for their exams. Each student will need two patients, one for a mock board exam conducted at ODS and another for the actual exam.
Patients who are willing to travel to board exam sites will have their travel expense paid for by the dental hygiene student. Board patients will be away from home for two to three days, Kruse said.
Individuals applying to participate in the program will be screened by ODS College of Dental Sciences students, all of whom are set to graduate this year.
Screenings will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 8 and Feb. 22 at the ODS College of Dental Sciences, 909 Adams Ave.
“The screenings will take 15 to 20 minutes,” Kruse said.
Interested?
People who think they may qualify to be a board patient should call the ODS College of Dental Sciences at 541-663-2721 as soon as possible.
