150 students, faculty and professionals volunteer to provide free dental and health
services
Students and volunteers came together at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic dental clinic
at Regina Campus on April 6, 2024 to provide quality health care to 71 clients from
the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Regina Open Door Society. Volunteers and students
completed $53,456 worth of dentistry work.
Over 150 dentists, dental therapists, denturists, dental assistants, dental hygienists,
nurses and Sask Polytech students, faculty and staff volunteered their expertise and
time. Clients come in prior to Health and Wellness Day for screenings and exams,
this allows volunteers to focus on treatment plans and providing free oral health
care on April 6.
“Health and Wellness Day brings a community of volunteers together to provide essential
dental care to people who truly can’t afford it,” says Robin McKay Ganshorn, clinical
coordinator and instructor for Sask Polytech’s dental programs. “It’s an incredible
learning journey for Sask Polytech students. They undergo significant growth during
this project. Initially nervous about coordinating dental and health services for
a large group, they gradually build confidence in their skills and abilities. This
opportunity enables students to gain practical experience.”
Blaine Maxwell, third-year Dental Hygiene student, helped organize the event along
with other third-year students, assisted with screenings and helped develop treatment
plans for clients. “Prior to the event, there is a lot of work and planning that goes
into Health and Wellness Day,” says Maxwell. “I’m a dental assistant already, I’ve
worked in private practice for a few years. Through my work, I have witnessed the
significant financial challenges associated with dental care. This day breaks down
the barriers to dental care that many people face. I think it’s important to volunteer
our time to help others in the community access the care they need.”
Maxwell’s classmate, Mckenna Legault, adds, “It is important to provide clients with
therapeutic care and preventative education tools for their oral and overall health.
Our goal is to educate clients about proper oral care techniques to prevent the need
of future restorative treatment. Health and Wellness Day allows us to work as an interprofessional
team to provide the best outcome for each client.”
Hands-on learning in the dental clinic and at Health and Wellness Day enables our
health sciences and nursing students to integrate classroom learning with real-world
practice.
The success of Health and Wellness Day relies on the generosity and financial support
of sponsors. Thank you to Access Communications Children’s Fund, Conexus Credit Union,
Dental Corp, Henry Schein, Innovation Federal Credit Union, the Rybchuk’s Catering
Company and Sherwood Co-op for their support. Additionally, the School of Health Sciences
and School of Nursing at Sask Polytech played a vital role in making this event possible.
The Sask Polytech dental clinic is located at Regina Campus, 4500 Wascana Parkway,
5th Floor. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 306-775-7531. Sask Polytech’s
dental clinic is open to the public and available for appointments to clients of all
ages. To learn more about the clinic and the services provided visit Dental Clinic (saskpolytech.ca)
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is signatory to the SDG Accord. Sustainable Development Goal alignment is one of the ways Sask Polytech is leading the rise of polytechnic education.
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