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Owens Dental Hygiene Purchases Mobile X-ray Machine with Grant Funds

The Owens Community College Department of Dental Hygiene will look to expand its community outreach offerings after purchasing a mobile X-ray unit thanks to a $5,000 grant generously funded in part by the Ohio Dental Association Foundation.

Dental Hygiene students are involved in more than 30 community events throughout the school year, including their biannual Access to Care Day providing free services to children ages 18 and younger. During their last Access to Care Day in October, 37 patients were seen, with services including dental cleanings, X-rays, sealants, fluoride treatments, exams and dental education.

The Owens Department of Dental Hygiene received a grant from the Ohio Dental Association Foundation for the purchase of a mobile X-ray machine.

In addition to their special Access to Care Day events, the Dental Hygiene department also provides services to anyone in the dental clinic for a reduced cost of $35.

That many patients coming through the clinic in the Healthcare Education Center can create a bottleneck at times for radiographs, according to Teresa Kania, chair of the Dental Hygiene department.

“It’s nice to have another option to take X-rays from room to room,” Kania said. “At any given time, there could be 30 students who need X-rays during clinic time. It gives us options with the mobile unit.”

Having access to learning on a mobile X-ray unit improves the education of the students as well.

“When I was in private practice, I had to learn on the job because I’d never seen anything like that before,” Kania said. “It’s nice to have that here so the students can experience it and they’re not in shock when they go into an office.”

The students also provided oral cancer screenings and fluoride treatments during Tent City in downtown Toledo on Saturday, Oct. 17. Putting the students in a variety of similar community events can give them a different perspective, according to Kania.

“This is the first time many of our students are exposed to anything like that, to experience homelessness,” Kania said of Tent City. “Even if these students for one second think about how this person got here, the compassion behind it is amazing to see. It’s interesting and educational to see all the different walks of life by doing these community events. You learn so much more.”

The students also participate in events with Mercy Health, Safety City, Lucas County Children’s Services and various schools and churches around northwest Ohio.

“Everyone’s got dental stories,” Kania said. “It’s an amazing experience for these students, and vice versa because we’re bringing knowledge to the community.”

Find more information on our Dental Hygiene program at owens.edu.