For some college students, visits to the dentist’s office are almost a luxury. Considering that the average cost for a dental examination, which includes X-rays and diagnosis as well as dental work, is anywhere in the neighborhood of $100 to $200, it stands to reason that students are willing to forgo dental hygiene for the sake of a fatter wallet.

But ETSU’s Department of Allied Health Sciences’ dental hygiene program offers a less costly alternative to the hundreds that could be spent on dental work. “We offer dental cleanings for $20,” said Tabitha Price, assistant professor in the dental hygiene program. “X-rays are free, unless we duplicate those to take to a dental office. We charge $30 for a full-mouth set of X-rays.”

In order to give their students a ‘hands-on’ style of education, the dental hygiene program accepts students and the general public alike in order to give their students a chance to hone their skills.

Senior dental hygiene student Stacey Keller has worked in the program for the past three semesters. “I think a lot of all the experience I’ve gotten in the past year and a half,” Keller said. “I’m going to enjoy it as a career.”

In addition to basic cleanings and check-ups, the students are also given an opportunity to work on more serious dental conditions.
“If patients have been to the dentist’s and have been told that they need to have periodontal treatment, then we can do that,” Price said.

Periodontitis is a progression of the gum disease gingivitis. In periodontal disease cases, plaque begins to grow beneath the gum line, and the bacteria within the plaque begins to secrete toxins that irritate the gums. Left untreated, the gums will begin to separate from the teeth, leaving pockets between them, which are also susceptible to bacterial infection.

“We actually have a lot of periodontitis in the clinic,” Keller said. “We usually don’t have a lot of routine cleanings. We have more severe cases.”

The reason Keller and her classmates are more apt to see these severe cases is that their cost of treatment is drastically lower than the average dentist’s office. “For patients that have periodontal disease, usually cleanings cost a little more,” Price said. “Sometimes dentists will charge up to $200 per quadrant, so $800 total. Again, we only charge $20.”

Another of the more common practices in the dental hygiene clinic is the application of dental sealants. Sealants are plastic coatings that are applied for protective purposes over the thin grooves of molars, which are often difficult to reach with a toothbrush. The clinic charges $12 per sealant use.

The 22-unit clinic is located on the first floor of Lamb Hall. First- time visitors undergo a screening process, which involves the taking of X-rays, diagnosis and assignment to a dental hygiene student. The actual treatment would commence upon the second visit.

Keller is appreciative of the opportunity to work in her desired field during her education, especially working with lower-income patients. “I think it’s horrible that it’s so expensive,” she said. “But I think really highly of my profession and am really grateful for all the work I’ve done.”