the community. Each dentist treats several patients per night. Five Dental Hygiene students supervised by a Dental & - / rotate through the CDC clinic. “These are patients who were never able to be seen by local dentists because the reimbursement is so poor (under state and federal assistance programs),� said Boe, who is aware of the challenges facing rural medical providers through
_ @ * & * ! YX 8 _ them (in their private practices), so we’re not taking away business from dentists in the community.� Jean Kaspari, who formerly managed the CDC and now works as the clinic and lab assistant, laughs when she recalls the initial concerns about having enough patients. “We don’t have to worry about that anymore,� she said. Y" # 8 &! _ 3 !Z
Dental Program Pass Rate > > $ & ; { >
For the fourth consecutive year, an impressive 100 percent of the graduates of Minnesota State Community and Technical College’s Dental Hygiene and Dental - - # examinations. Dental Hygiene students must pass the National Board of Dental Hygiene Examination, a measure used to # ` dental hygienists who apply for licensure to practice & ! / - / X ! Both dental hygienists and dental assistants also must apply to the state where they wish to be licensed and pass that state’s exam law. Y" - 8 9 to achieve this goal,� said Dr. Thomas Boe, director of _ / % ! There are 64 students enrolled in the combined hygiene and assisting programs, which are located on M State’s Moorhead campus.