Georgian College’s Oral Health Clinic in Barrie, Ontario, is the latest clinic to offer affordable dental care, especially to those who don’t qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. The clinic has dental assistant, dental hygiene and denture technician students who provide preventive and therapeutic dental care to community residents.
Lisa Buchanan, the college’s clinic and practice director, told Barrie Today and CTV News that the clinic serves about 200 to 250 clients per week during the 14-week semester. Students are also responsible for recruiting their own clients.
“I wish we didn’t have to do that because they already have a lot to learn,” Buchanan told Barrie Today. “But it’s also good practice for them because they’re going to be practicing in the future. It helps them understand how to recruit clients and how to communicate with denture clients,” she added.
Buchanan noted that word of mouth is often the best way to find clients. Many of the clinic’s clients rely on disability benefits, such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
Related topics:
