CCRI’s Class of 2022 Dental Hygiene students will host a free dental sealant and fluoride treatment children’s clinic this Saturday, April 23 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln as their semester community project.

 Named “Under the ‘Sea’ Lant,” the treatments are available for children 17 years of age or younger, and all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Scheduling for a treatment is by appointment only by calling 401-333-7330.

 CCRI’s Dental Hygiene program seeks to prepare students as dental hygienists who can competently and safely perform dental hygiene procedures; display the personal qualities of integrity, responsibility and reliability; function as active members of the dental care team; and are committed to professional development through life-long learning.

 “Childhood decay is the number one preventable disease in the United States. The Dental Hygiene Class of 2022 put its primary focus for this community outreach project on preventing this disease. We saw an opportunity in a way to give back to our communities by choosing to provide sealants and fluoride treatments to young people,” said Ingrid Ingrid Kakisis, a CCRI dental hygiene student and chair of this community event.

 “Sealant treatments are essential, especially for young people, because dental sealants can reduce dental decay by 80%, creating create a barrier on the grooves of the teeth, prohibiting bacteria from entering or penetrating tooth and causing decay,” added Kakisis on the importance of this treatment.

Parents and children coming to the clinic can expect that children will receive sealants on qualifying teeth and fluoride treatment. Sealants are a tooth-colored material placed in the grooves of adult molars; this is the most common spot for decay to occur. Fluoride varnish is a clear material placed on all tooth surfaces and helps prevent decay or, in some cases, slow the progression of decay. Both are non-invasive procedures.