AHI event April 6, bowling fundraiser April 5
More than 50 senior Dental Hygiene students are ready to sink their teeth into National Dental Hygienists Week.
Their goal: to promote the profession of dental hygiene and the importance of good oral health.
“Dental hygienists, as regulated health professionals, have a duty to advocate for their profession and for the oral and overall health of people at both an individual and community level. Students have the opportunity on a daily basis to interact with their individual clients, but something like our event for National Dental Hygienists Week, now affords students the opportunity to reach out to the community in a fun and exciting way,” said School of Allied Health Professor Alaina Gauthier. “It allows the students to reach out to people on a much larger scale. It encourages students to use different skill sets and further hone their skills as a dental hygienist.”
The annual in-person event for NDHW will return to the Applied Health Institute. The college community is welcome to attend on April 6 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (AHI foyer).
Tables will be set up with information dedicated to various oral health topics, along with student-created games for those who attend the event. Students have also organized prizes and oral care items for giveaways.
For DH students, the AHI event is tied to their Dental Business course, noted Gauthier. Concepts of planning, organization, marketing, social media are used heavily in the organization of this event, which are tied into the learning outcomes of the course.
“Since this event promotes dental hygiene advocacy and community engagement, it also supports students’ knowledge of and application of the Dental Hygiene Standards of Practice,” she said.
Social media
Students are also taking their celebrations to social media, with posts about the profession and about oral health and wellness throughout National Dental Hygienists Week (NDHW).
Follow the students on Instagram at @ndhw2023.
Bowling fundraiser April 5
View NDHW ’23 Bowling Fundraiser Poster here.
Dental Hygiene students are ‘striking smiles’ for National Dental Hygienists Week.
DH students are planning a bowling fundraiser on April 5 (5-8 p.m.) as an extra initiative – outside of their program learning –to help those in need in the community.
The event will be held at Parkway Social Bowling Alley in St. Catharines, in support of The Hope Centre in Welland, and Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold.
Those attending the event are asked to bring dental care products (for example, mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss). Donations will go to Community Care and The Hope Centre.
Bowling is allotted for two hours at $17.99 plus tax, including shoe rental.
The NC community is welcome to attend -along with family and friends.
For information and to RSVP for the Striking Smiles bowling fundraiser, please email ndhw23bowling@gmail.
About NDHW
National Dental Hygienists Week (NDHW) 2023 is an annual event recognized by the Canadian Dental Health Association.NDHW 2023 will take place from April 4-10. Focusing on the importance of maintaining good oral health practices while emphasizing the role of the dental hygiene profession in preventing and treating oral health problems. Visit cdha.ca/NDHW.
Dental education At NC
Dental Hygiene is a three-year advanced diploma program within NC’s School of Allied Health, based at the Welland Campus.
The School of Allied Health also offers a one-year Dental Assisting (Levels 1 and II certificate program, and one-year Dental Office Administration program.
The NC Dental Clinic is also based at the Welland Campus, which provides dental health services to students and community members at low cost, while offering the dental students dental programs the opportunity to work with clients in a safe environment.
