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SANDY HOOK, Ky. – The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry sent first-year dental students to Elliott County to provide oral health services to elementary-age children on Monday and Tuesday.
This gave the dental students their first patient experience. The children they worked with may not have access to oral health care without this service.
Students said they were happy to have this opportunity at such an early stage in their education and to help underserved communities.
“It’s really nice to be here, like the fact that we can drive two hours and be able to treat kids who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go to the dentist or haven’t seen a dentist in years. … It’s very satisfying,” said Phoenix Parker, a first-year dental student at UK.
Groups of students collaborated as they worked with each child.
The priority of the children’s comfort was top of mind as they engaged in conversations with the children to ease any discomfort they may have experienced.
“What’s so important is to be able to move—y go out to them and bring in students and provide great care for the kids and give them a great experience to like dentistry and not they fear it,” said Ron Singer, a division chief. public health dentistry for the united kingdom dental college.
According to the UK Center for Transforming Health Equity, the number of dentists per 100,000 people in Appalachian Kentucky is 42% lower on average compared to non-Appalachian areas. That’s why the dental college targeted those areas for its mobile dental clinics.
