Sealant Saturday Event Honored as Outstanding Initiative
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Pennsylvania College of Technology was recognized recently for an annual program that offers dental sealants to uninsured and underinsured children.
The Northcentral Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center presented its Outstanding Oral Health Initiative award to the college for its involvement in the 2009 Sealant Saturday event.
Each February, as part of the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists' Association's statewide Sealant Saturday program, Penn College's dental hygiene clinic opens its doors to children ages 7 to 15 to provide free oral screenings, sealants, fluoride treatments and education. To make the event possible, 20 dental hygienists, two dentists and 31 Penn College dental hygiene students (as well as faculty) volunteered their time.
The event served 65 children, resulting in 332 free dental sealants being placed. The current cost of a dental sealant in central Pennsylvania is about $30.
Other supporters of the event include the Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition, North Central Dental Hygienists' Association, the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists' Association, Premier Dental and Dentsply.
Each year, the Northcentral Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center recognizes a single person or group of people who address a definable community dental need and improve the oral health of the underserved. The award was presented Sept. 11 during the center's annual Trends in Management of Dental Disease Conference.
For information about the dental hygiene program at Penn College, including opportunities to enroll in the online bachelor-degree completion major, call 570-327-4519 or visit online .
To learn more about Penn College, visit on the Web , e-mail , or call toll-free 800-367-9222.