Kids Oral Health Day sees 34 children
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
photos by Tiana L. Minnick, instructor of dental hygiene
A dental hygiene student cleans a child's teeth during Kids Oral Health Day at the college's Dental Hygiene Clinic.
Second-year dental hygiene students and dental hygiene faculty provided care for 34 children at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Kids Oral Health Day – an expanded version of the familiar Sealant Saturday events that began in 2003.
The Dental Hygiene Clinic, located in the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, 206 College Ave., accepted appointments for the Nov. 8 event for patients from 3 to 18 years old in need of dental cleanings, exams, sealants and fluoride treatments, all offered free of charge.
The scope of services provided during the event equates to approximately $10,000 worth of free care, according to Shawn A. Kiser, director of the dental hygiene program.
“Kids Oral Health Day provides essential preventive dental services to children who may otherwise face barriers to accessing care,” Kiser said.
“Many families in our region struggle with finding affordable dental services, transportation or providers accepting new patients.”
Beyond the immediate clinical benefits, Kiser added, parents learn about the importance of early preventive care and establishing a dental home.
“It also demonstrates the Penn College Dental Hygiene Program’s ongoing commitment to addressing oral health disparities and supporting the well-being of our local communities,” he said.
Kiser explained that Kids Oral Health Day is an opportunity for students to apply their clinical knowledge in a real-world, community-focused setting while developing confidence, communication skills and cultural competence.
“Providing care to a large number of children in a single event helps students strengthen efficiency, teamwork and clinical decision-making,” Kiser said. “It also reinforces the role of the dental hygienist as a community health professional, not only a clinician. The event allows students to see the impact of their work beyond the classroom and helps cultivate a strong sense of professional responsibility and service.”
The college’s Dental Hygiene Clinic is open to the public during the school year. Clinic sessions are scheduled Monday through Friday for adults and children, regardless of insurance status or previous dental history. Families from any community are welcome. Appointments can be made by calling 570-327-4500.
To learn about the college’s dental hygiene majors, call 570-327-4519.
Dental hygiene students unite to provide free oral care for 34 children.
Patricia A. Durand, part-time instructor of dental hygiene, joins a pair of Kids Oral Health Day participants in showing off their "pearly whites."