TMCC’s Dental Hygiene Program Provides Essential Services to Local Community

Situated in the Truckee Meadows of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) dental hygiene program has served the Northern Nevada community since 2000. Like many other programs, TMCC has its own dental hygiene clinic, which the community can access any time during the academic semester. As a small program of 12 to 14 students per class, the clinic works to expand its reach in serving many agencies in the community.

The dental hygiene students work diligently to recruit new partners to improve the oral health of those who cannot access traditional dental hygiene services. As TMCC already works with the Veteran’s Administration and Indian Health services by sending students to their clinics for enrichment opportunities, the program also has partnered with the Nevada National Guard for their readiness program. Students in the dental hygiene program are able to provide PSR screenings, radiographs, and cleanings as soldiers prepare for deployment to the Middle East.

Recently, TMCC implemented a new program called Golden Smiles, which is based on grants written by full-time faculty in which seniors are able to access dental hygiene services at no cost. Additionally, a new partnership with the Washoe County Department of Social Services will allow the department to transport their group home clients for much needed dental hygiene services that also will improve compliance with needed dental care.

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