FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2007
Contact Ben Chambers, (770) 537-5756

A West Central Technical College program offering dental care to the West Georgia’s underserved special-needs population has received a second $1,500 grant within three months of the first.

Oral Health Resources for the Special Needs Population, a Savannah, Ga.-based non-profit organization, has awarded both grants in support of West Central’s efforts to provide the adult special needs population with preventive oral care at the College’s Douglas Campus.

“I am excited about the collaboration with the dental hygiene program at West Central Tech College in providing much-needed preventive oral health services to our special needs population,”  Beth Roach, the executive director of Oral Health Resources, said. “Georgia is experiencing waiting lists up to eight years for dental services for adult community-based individuals with developmental disabilities.”

According to Roach, West Central Tech College is among the very first dental hygiene programs in Georgia to become a part of this collaboration between institutions providing oral care and her organization.

“This program will not only provide oral health services to our loved ones with developmental disabilities, but also the rewarding experience to the dental hygiene students as they interact with this population,” Roach said.

According to Carol Johnson, WCTC director of dental hygiene, dental hygiene students at WCTC are well-educated in treating a wide variety of patients with differing preventive oral health needs. “This service is really part of our service learning -- serve the underserved,” Johnson said.

Johnson considers helping adult patients with special needs one of the special community services the clinic offers, she said.

“Although these individuals may be covered for their medical care through Medicaid they do not have dental insurance coverage, have difficulty finding access to care, and often cannot afford dental care,” Johnson said. 

“As the American Medical Association and American Dental Association recognize, a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy body. The students and faculty in the dental hygiene program have served this population for 12 years and enjoy the clients that visit our clinic. We appreciate this kind recognition for our services to the community,” Johnson said.

West Central Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties, offers over 90 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study – including dental hygiene. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Central is the sixth fastest-growing of 33 technical colleges in the state and last year had an unduplicated credit enrollment of 5,059.

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