SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC
Sask Polytech's Health and Wellness Day free services aim to reduce barriers for Regina non-profit clients

Students and volunteers came together at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic dental clinic at Regina campus on April 12 to provide quality health care to 92 clients from Regina non-profit organizations including Family Service Regina, Pine Lodge Addiction Recovery, Regina Open Door Society, SEARCH Health Clinic, Ukrainian Canadian Congress and transitional housing services. Volunteers and students completed $67,712 worth of dentistry work.

Image credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic
 

Over 150 dentists, dental therapists, denturists, dental assistants, dental hygienists and Sask Polytech students, faculty and staff volunteered their expertise and time.  Clients came in prior to Health and Wellness Day for screenings and exams, this allowed volunteers to focus on treatment plans and providing free oral health care on April 12. Since 2012, Sask Polytech faculty, students and community volunteers have been offering free services to Regina clients during Health and Wellness Day.

"Health and Wellness Day unites a dedicated community of students and volunteers to deliver essential dental and health care to those in need," says Robin McKay Ganshorn, clinical coordinator and instructor for Sask Polytech's dental programs. "This initiative offers Sask Polytech students an invaluable learning experience. This event brings together students from our Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting and Dental Therapy programs.  It is amazing to watch them all work together towards a common goal."  

Dental professionals and dental students provided oral exams, restorations, routine extractions, hygiene care and education.

Janelle Haye, Bryn Antonson, and Brooklynn Vanneste, third-year Dental Hygiene students, helped organize Health and Wellness Day. They coordinated operators, assisted in finding clients and managed the event logistics. Additionally, they organized fundraisers to support client transportation to and from the Regina campus dental clinic.

"Each year we host a burger night fundraiser, this year we hosted extra burger nights and bake sales to raise money to pay for Ubers to help our clients out," says Antonson. "Some money also helps pay for goodie bags to say thank you to all the operators and volunteers."

"We have all helped with Health and Wellness Day over the past two years. In my first year I worked directly with a dentist, helping chairside with procedures for three patients. It was a great learning opportunity and my first time assisting a dentist while a student at Sask Polytech," says Haye.  

Vanneste adds, "This year we reached out to some new groups to connect with people who haven't had dental treatment in while. Many of them wouldn't have had treatment if we didn't find them during our needs assessment. This event helps break down barriers to dental care and treatment."

Hands-on learning in the dental clinic and at Health and Wellness Day enables our students to integrate classroom learning with real-world practice. Under the supervision of licensed dentists and dental hygienists, students get first-hand experience in providing comprehensive dental and hygiene care. 

The success of Health and Wellness Day is made possible by the generosity and financial support of our sponsors. A heartfelt thank you to our gold sponsors: dentalcorp and Henry Schein Dental; silver sponsor: Conexus Credit Union; nutritional sponsor: 123Dentist; and gift-in-kind sponsors: Dentsply Sirona, Rybchuk's Catering Company, Ukrainian Co-op, Sherwood Co-op and Oral Science Creating Synergies. Gold, silver and nutritional sponsors help cover the costs of supplies used in delivering care and subsidize any further treatment that may be needed. In-kind sponsors provide oral care supplies, dental equipment, food and refreshments for our volunteers.

The Sask Polytech dental clinic is located at Regina campus, 4500 Wascana Parkway, 5th Floor. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 306-775-7531. Sask Polytech's dental clinic is open to the public and available for appointments to clients of all ages. To learn more about the clinic and the services provided visit saskpolytech.ca/dentalclinic.