Students provide oral health care at White Deer Run facility

Pennsylvania College of Technology dental hygiene students recently provided oral hygiene instruction and information to clients of White Deer Run of Allenwood, an addiction rehabilitation center.

Sponsored by the Penn College Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association, six students spent a day at the center.

“The purpose of our community outreach was to provide oral hygiene instruction and information to a population in need of direction,” explained student Mikey E. Strohm III, of Thompsontown.

During six group presentations, the students provided instruction on the proper technique for brushing and flossing; provided information about the effects of high sugar intake, dry mouth and fluoride; and distributed 250 oral health care packages that included a toothbrush, string floss, toothpaste and lip balm. They also assessed each person’s risk for cavities.

The clients, Strohm said, were highly interested in what the students shared, asking questions beyond the originally planned presentation.

“By the end of the day, we were able to assess, inform and evaluate the oral health status of 171 men and 79 women,” Strohm said. “The population of White Deer Run met us with respect and appreciation for our outreach, and as a group, we were beyond appreciative for the opportunity.”

Participating in addition to Strohm were Orlando D. Bellaman, of Williamsport; Joshua Quigley, of Williamsport; Lily J. Sipel, of Manheim; Ty D. Turba, of Houtzdale; and Julie K. Wangler, of Lancaster. All six students are planning to graduate with associate degrees in dental hygiene in May.

The outreach was completed as part of the students’ Community Dental Health class.

“This outreach project provided an opportunity to connect with people who are experiencing substance use disorder,” said Bridget E. Motel, assistant professor of dental hygiene, who teaches the class. “Given that 46.3 million people in the U.S. (16.5% of the population) meet the criteria for experiencing SUD, oral health care workers will routinely provide care for this population. This experience enables students to research the specific oral health needs of individuals with SUD and use this information to develop an educational outreach plan that can address these needs.”

Special dental concerns for those experiencing substance use disorder can include tooth decay, periodontal disease, xerostomia (dry mouth), dental erosion and an increased risk of developing oral cancer.

To learn more about the dental hygiene program at Penn College, call 570-327-4519.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.