Free Dental Care Available to Children on 'Sealant Saturday'
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
Volunteer dentists and dental hygienists, assisted by students in Pennsylvania College of Technology's Dental Hygiene Program, will offer free oral screenings, sealants and education for children ages 7-15 during "Sealant Saturday" on Feb. 5.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Penn College's Dental Hygiene Clinic on the second floor (west wing) of the Breuder Advanced Technology and Health Sciences Center.
Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to seal the pits and grooves on the teeth, where tooth decay can occur.
Getting sealants placed on the chewing surfaces of the teeth is a simple and painless procedure. No injections or anesthesia is required, and sealants can last as long as five to 10 years. The sealants should be checked regularly by a dental professional.
Sealants will be placed as needed on permanent teeth and will not be applied where tooth decay is present.
The Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists' Association will conduct similar dental-hygiene educational clinics throughout the state on Feb. 5 in observance of national Children's Dental Health Month.
To set up your child's appointment, call (570) 320-8007 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information about the Dental Hygiene program at Penn College, visit on the Web, or e-mail the School of Health Sciences.