TJC dental studies students Emily Herbertson and Sierra Collins give preventative dental care to first-grader Annalee Sikes, 7, at Jack Elementary.

TJC, UT HEALTH EAST TEXAS PARTNERSHIP

Apartnership between the Tyler Junior College dental hygiene department and UT Health East Texas has found a way to make teeth cleaning fun for children.

While it’s not uncommon for children to be afraid of the dentist, students at Jack Elementary School were excited to get their teeth cleaned after meeting dental hygiene students who used stuffed animals with dentures and oversized tooth brushes to demonstrate proper brushing techniques.

UT Health East Texas Dentist Adrienne Haire helped guide the dental hygiene students as they put the children at ease and got them ready to have their teeth cleaned alongside classmates.

“It felt weird. My teeth felt softer,” Harper Hajek said.

Dental hygiene student Sierra Collins said the clinics are helpful because they will see a lot of children in elementary school once they begin working in the

field. Hands-on experience will help prepare them for when children aren’t so excited about a trip to the dentist.

Haire said the agreement with Tyler ISD lets them visit all of the district’s schools. They try to fit in at least one free dental clinic each year.

“We come to the school so the students don’t have to go anywhere” Haire said. “They get acclimated to us and the dentist early, so it’s beneficial to the youth and the schools.”

Students were checked for cavities, given a cleaning and fluoride treatment. They also got a small hourglass to help them remember how long to brush each section of their teeth.

Tyler Junior College offers associate and bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene. For more information, visit tjc.edu.

CLOSER LOOK

ONLINE

• See a video on the dental clinic at TylerPaper.com.