I have had the opportunity to participate in several community service events where I assist with data collection, provide oral hygiene instructions, and/or perform dental screenings. These experiences have made me more aware of the disparities in dental care. I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can volunteer at community service events and provide patients with vital oral health information. These experiences have been profoundly influential in my journey to become a dental hygienist. I have always had a passion for helping people and I am certain that I will continue volunteering my time as a licensed professional to help bridge the gap between dental need and access to care. 

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My peers and I were given the opportunity to volunteer our time with Kids Community Dental Clinic providing oral hygiene instructions and assisting the doctor and hygienist with data collection. Throughout these events, over 380 kids were screened for dental service needs and provided with a referral for a dentist. 

 

Certificate of Achievement and Community Service Verification Forms 

 

As we continued attending community service events we began taking leadership roles in performing dental screenings ourselves. As a class, we screened over 850 elementary school children, provided oral hygiene instructions and dental aids, and applied fluoride varnish (if parent consent was given). Furthermore, we also visited Lanterman Regional Center Group Homes and educated patients with special needs with oral hygiene instructions pertaining to their individual needs.