July 26, 2024
Shawnee State University has been awarded $100,000 in grant funding from the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF). The funds will be used to purchase upgraded dental chairs for the university’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, allowing students to continue to provide care and learn techniques among a current academic environment.
“It is an honor for the Shawnee State University Dental Hygiene program to receive the grand funding from the Delta Dental Foundation,” said SSU Dental Hygiene Program Director Georgeann Kamer. “This funding will allow us to make necessary upgrades to our Dental Clinic so we can continue to provide an outstanding education for our students and high-quality dental services for the community.”
The SSU Dental Hygiene Clinic provides dental hygiene care to the campus and the surrounding community while providing an educational setting for current students enrolled in the program. The clinic offers services including scaling and polishing of teeth, administration of appropriate pain control, dental x-rays, application of fluoride, application of pit and fissure sealants, patient education, nutritional counseling, and study models. Students perform all dental hygiene services with patients receiving final examination by an Ohio licensed dental hygienist or dentist.
“There’s a nationwide shortage of dental hygienists, which means that SSU’s new grads will be in high demand,” said Holli Sebury, EdD, Executive Director of the DDF. “It’s imperative that they’re trained using the most current technologies.”
SSU’s Dental Hygiene program spans five semesters, equipping students for a profession in dental and oral health. Upon completion, graduates are prepared for employment in clinics and private dental practices to deliver an array of dental and oral services, along with home care guidance and dietary counseling. The graduating class of 2024 recently achieved a 100% board pass rate on the Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE), which evaluates candidates on their clinical and judgement skills.
The Delta Dental Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 1980, which serves as the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina. The DDF is dedicated to developing and enhancing partnerships and programs to improve oral and overall health and health equity. For more information, visit deltadental.foundation.
For more information on the Dental Hygiene program at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/dental-hygiene.