Maureen Savner
Maureen Savner
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Although February is Dental Health Month, the activities and services open to the community at the Benco Dental Clinic continue throughout the year.
Luzerne County Community College’s Benco Dental Clinic is a state-of-the art facility in the Francis S. and Mary Gill Carrozza, R.N. Health Sciences Center, located at 42 E. Main St., Nanticoke.
Throughout the year, patients can visit the clinic for a thorough intra- and extra-oral exam, including oral cancer and blood pressure screenings, and for a comprehensive teeth cleaning. Students also provide desensitization procedures such as the application of agents designed to reduce tooth sensitivity associated with gum recession. Digital X-rays, which use less radiation, are taken based upon patient need. Topical fluoride treatments that help strengthen teeth and prevent dental decay might be applied for both adults and children.
Students instruct patients on how to maintain good oral health, and provide them with a toothbrush and other oral health aids. Patients are referred to their local dentist or dental clinic for routine dental work.
Members of the community are charged the minimal fees of $5 for children, $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens. This service can be especially helpful to those without dental insurance.
This year, students placed first in a statewide competition discussing current dental topics; they intend to compete in the national competition. In addition, the LCCC dental hygiene program has achieved a 99 percent first-time passing rate on the National Dental Hygiene Licensure Examination for the past 30 years.
From 9 a.m. to noon on March 28, the Benco Dental Clinic will host the annual Kids’ Cavity Prevention Day. The program is for children ages 3 to 16, and will include dental exams, sealants, dental D-rays, oral hygiene instruction and fluoride treatments. All services and activities are free.
From 9 a.m. to noon on April 11, the clinic will host an oral head and neck cancer screening in conjunction with the Head and Neck Alliance. Oral, head and neck cancer refers to many types of cancers but includes those that arise in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat or larynx (voice box). The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 121,790 new cases of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, throat and thyroid, and 14,240 deaths from these cancers in 2015. Cancers of the oropharynx (tonsil and base of tongue) are increasing in incidence, particularly in younger non-smokers, and these cancers alone will account for over 40,000 cases per year in the U.S.
Given the current state of the economy and rising health care costs, take advantage of the opportunity to benefit from free preventive health services at the LCCC Benco Dental Clinic.
To schedule an appointment, or participate in the upcoming free screenings, call 570-740-0446 or 800-377-LCCC, ext. 7446. Good oral health is priceless and it begins with preventive services!
Maureen Savner is a professor of dental hygiene at Luzerne County Community College. For information, visit www.luzerne.edu.