MARCH 19, 2003 | The Department of Dental Hygiene at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) was honored today in a luncheon at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock (UALR).

The two-year dental hygiene program in the College of Health Related Professions was singled out for its partnership with Share America at UALR, a program created ten years ago to identify and address the health needs of at-risk children. For the past four years, dental hygiene students have given free dental care to children in the six elementary schools which Share America serves.

“This is one way our students get to examine children so that they get the clinic requirements they need,” said Dental Hygiene Clinic coordinator Susan DeAngelis, Ed.D., R.D.H. “It’s amazing the interaction they have with the children. For many of the kids it’s the first time they’ve been to the dentist, so they’re just like sponges. Also the students get to see people who are in pretty dire need for dental care, so it opens their eyes to community service and the need for treatment.”

Dental Hygiene students provide dental cleanings and screenings both in the clinic and on location at the schools. They also learn to take x-rays on live patients, fulfilling their radiography lab requirements. In addition they apply sealants, a plastic coating that helps protect teeth from cavity causing bacteria. Share America’s “Future Smiles” program, a concentrated sealant effort for elementary children during the month of February, also depends heavily on the UAMS clinic and students.

“Without the dental hygiene program, these children would not have dental exams,” said Cheryl Chapman, director of UALR Share America. “When we take the vans to the schools to load up for a trip to UAMS, those kids fight over who gets to go to the dentist.”

At the luncheon, Chapman presented Dr. DeAngelis and department chair Virginia Goral, Ph.D., R.D.H., with a plaque recognizing the contributions of the UAMS Dental Hygiene Dept. to Share America.

Links on This Page

UAMS Dental Hygiene Dept: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/dentalhygiene/default.asp
UAMS College of Health Related Professions: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/
Share America: http://www.shareamerica.org/
Students Apply Sealants: http://www.uams.edu/info/Updates/March02/sealants.htm
Video: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/dentalhygiene/video.asp
Nurses Can Earn: http://www.uams.edu/today/2003/032003/nursing_workforce.htm
UAMS, UALR Announce Initiative:
http://www.uams.edu/today/2003/032003/collaboration.htm

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