Dental hygieneist program offers various services to students and community members

Austin Lewis Staff Writer

October is often thought of as the month where people get to dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating for candy, but it is also Dental Hygiene Awareness month.

The Pierce College Dental Hygiene Clinic, located on the first floor of the Cascade building, can help with potential dental problems that might result from Halloween. The clinic offers everything from fluoride treatments to comprehensive examinations and cleanings to students, and the community, with further reduced fees for U.S. Veterans or people under ProviderOne .

However, because this is a clinic and not an office, there are some preliminary requirements. To be accepted as a patient, each person has to meet specific learning experience criteria. They can find out if they qualify by having a free screening done that the clinic provides.

If you are accepted as a patient, a student will contact you to schedule an appointment based on their specific clinic calendar. Students perform the services under the direct supervision of their professors, licensed dental hygienists and dentists, who make sure every procedure is done correctly and exceptionally.

Oral hygiene is one of the most important things to regulate in life.  It’s been scientifically proven that oral hygiene is linked to several deadly diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and various types of cancer. “The mouth is the gateway to the health of your body,” said Monica Hospenthal, Director/Professor of the Dental Hygiene department.

While it might be important to stop by after Halloween for a free screening due to an increase in candy consumption, the clinic is open year round based on the quarterly schedule and always looking for people to come in so that the students can get hands-on experience and patients can have procedure’s done that they need. Call 253-964-6694 to schedule a free screening!
And if you wish to become a dental hygienist, Pierce would be an excellent choice. Although acceptance is a very competitive process, receiving over 100 applications a year while only having 20 open slots, the Pierce College dental hygiene program is nationally acclaimed. You can find more information on their website at:

http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/dept/denthyg/