{"id":27919,"date":"2023-07-06T07:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T07:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=27919"},"modified":"2024-03-06T22:29:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T22:29:13","slug":"eastern-washington-university-ewu-dental-hygiene-clinic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/eastern-washington-university-ewu-dental-hygiene-clinic\/","title":{"rendered":"EWU dental clinic improves education and access","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

In November 2022, the Health Services Administration published a report detailing the workforce shortages in Washington\u2019s dental field. Of the state\u2019s 39 counties, 10 had partial shortages while 29 had severe or widespread shortages.<\/p>\n

The students at the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Dental Hygiene Clinic<\/a> are helping fill those gaps.<\/p>\n

As the only true Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in the state, the program\u2019s students typically have full-time employment lined up before graduating, says Lori Speer, EWU Dental Hygiene department chair and associate professor. Many come from rural, underserved communities and plan to return to those areas to provide dental care, while others are filling needs across the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

In addition to a hands-on learning space for 80 juniors and seniors, the clinic also provides a critical resource to the community with lower-cost, high-quality and efficient dental care. The EWU Dental Hygiene Clinic accepts Apple Health and provides services ranging from dental hygiene cleanings to cancer screening, local anesthesia and restorative services, such as fillings.<\/p>\n

Hear from the staff and students of the EWU Dental Hygiene Clinic in this video below.<\/p>\n

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