The Temple College Dental Hygiene Program will conduct free dental screenings for prospective patients beginning Monday, Sept 10., in the Jean and Ralph Wilson Dental Hygiene Clinic, which is located in Temple College’s Health Sciences Center.

Screenings will take place on Mondays from Sept. 10 through Nov. 26 and will be offered in two sessions: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. They are performed on a walk-in basis.           

A screening is a brief examination of the mouth by a member of the program faculty and is necessary prior to becoming a patient in the program. Hygiene students provide the full range of preventive care services as part of their learning experiences within the program, however no reparative or restorative services are offered.

The Dental Hygiene Program is in particular need of patients who have not received dental hygiene care for several years or whose gums bleed easily.

After a patient has been screened, a dental hygiene student practitioner will call the patient at a later date to set up a hygiene appointment. There is a $15 fee for hygiene services, which include cleaning and polishing, radiographs (x-rays), pit and fissure sealants when appropriate, fluoride applications, nutritional counseling and home care instruction. The fee is due at the first cleaning appointment.

For more information, call the Temple College Dental Hygiene Clinic at 254-298-8688.