Dental Hygiene

In addition to two years of rigorous classroom instruction and weekly labs, students enrolled in the dental hygiene program at Colby Community College are required to complete many hours of clinical instruction to prepare them for the national board exam.  To comply with graduation requirements, patients are needed for the dental hygiene program.  Participants will receive an oral cancer exam, cleaning, and x-rays for a $20 discounted rate.   The downside of this reduced price cleaning is that is may take several appointments to complete the process owing to the time required for instructors to check the students’ work.
The dental hygiene clinic at CCC is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday from 1-5 p.m. each week.  To make an appointment with one of the student hygienists, call the clinic located in the Health Science Building at (785) 460-5438.
The nationally-accredited CCC program is unique in its method of instruction.  The classroom component of the work is delivered via interactive television equipment from Northcentral Technical College located in Wausau, Wis.  Lectures are reinforced with labs and clinics on the Colby campus.
Accrediting restrictions limit the Colby program to 12 first- and 12 second-year students.   This year the program has nine sophomores.  Ten hygienists graduated from the program in May 2008.  That group achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the national board examination.
Students enrolled in the dental hygienist program at Colby Community College will also host a Sealant/Fluoride Clinic on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.  They are applied on as a liquid and quickly harden to form a shield over the tooth.  Sealant placement is easy and painless.
Sealants, which can last up to 10 years, are suggested for children because the chewing surfaces of back teeth are rough and uneven.  Food and bacteria become trapped in these hidden areas because toothbrush bristles cannot brush them away, and eventually the tooth can develop a cavity.
Dental experts suggest that children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as teeth come in--before decay attacks the tooth.  Parents are encouraged to make an appointment for their children by calling 460-5438.
Program director for the CCC program is Becky Vollertsen.  Instructors include Sheri Martin, Bobette Maier and Dana Foss.  Dr. Jay Sekavec, DDS, serves as the supervising dentist for the program.