Dental hygiene students from Roane State Community College are serving their communities while gaining real-world experience thanks to a recent free dental clinic.

First- and second-year students in the program volunteer to treat patients as part of the clinic, held several times throughout the year at the Oak Ridge Campus. They are supervised and assisted by mentors from the dental hygiene field, including local dentist Dr. Kyle Smith of Beaver Creek Dental in Knoxville.

Services were provided at no cost to a total of 11 patients at the most recent clinic. Patients served ranged in age from 20 to 63 years old and were from Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, and Roane counties.

The students were able to help with two extractions and three restorations during the clinic, building on what they have learned in the classroom.

“Our Community Dental Clinic is the perfect way to meet a critical need within our service area,” explained Program Director Melinda Gill. “Our students can exercise their skills and see what a difference quality dental care can make for their patients. It is a win-win for all of us.”

Roane State plans to host two more free dental clinics in the spring. The first is scheduled for March 1 and another is set for April 5, 2025.

Patients are seen by appointment only at the free dental clinics. New patients are accepted as space allows and a wait list is in place. Information on clinic services, including how to add a name to the wait list, can be found online at roanestate.edu/freedentalclinic.

Roane State also operates a low-cost dental cleaning service during the spring and fall semesters, offering exams, radiographs, whitening, sealant, and fluoride treatments. Veterans can access these services for free. Appointments can be made by calling (865) 481-2016.

The dental clinic is on the first floor of the Coffey/McNally Building at the Oak Ridge Campus, located at 701 Briarcliff Avenue.