Baker College offers low-cost dental hygiene services

Appointments for low-cost dental hygiene services are available this spring at Baker College’s Center for Dental Hygiene Education. The Center is at 34401 S. Gratiot Ave., Clinton Township. To make an appointment, call 586.790.5238.

The care is provided by students in the associate degree dental hygiene program under the supervision of licensed dentists and hygienists. The center is open to all in the community; documentation of financial need is not required.

“These dental hygiene services are beneficial to community members and students,” said David Smith, a dentist and dental hygiene program director at Baker College of Clinton Township. “Community members can save hundreds of dollars on treatment, and students gain experience that prepares them for successful careers.”

He said the center’s low-cost services reduce the financial barrier for individuals to get dental hygiene services every six months as generally recommended. The low cost is especially helpful to those with higher risk of dental disease who require more frequent check ups.

Services include comprehensive oral examinations with an oral cancer screening, nutritional assessments, X-rays, oral hygiene instructions, dental cleanings, periodontal scaling/root planing, and application of fluoride and dental sealants.

Fees range from $5 for a fluoride application to $60 for periodontal scaling/root planing. Dental digital X-rays range from $20 to $30, sealants are $10 per tooth, and cleanings are $30 for adults and $20 children ages 3-14. All services are free for Baker College students, faculty and staff.

Appointments are at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays during the spring. Payment is required at the time of treatment; insurance is not accepted.

Additional patients are typically needed in the spring because second-year students need to complete graduation requirements and first-year students have advanced in their studies and require experience.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1911, Baker College grants doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as certificates in diverse academic fields including applied technology, business, education, engineering, health science, information technology and social science. Baker College has on-ground campuses throughout Michigan and offers online programs that can be completed 100 percent online without ever visiting a campus. In 2016, the Online Learning Consortium recognized Baker College Online with the OLC Quality Scorecard Exemplary Endorsement, the highest ranking for online higher education programs. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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