Beck Elandt
Staff Writer
Shabree England (left) and Fan Zhang are operating on a dental dummy.
Beck Elandt | The Washtenaw Voice
WCC’s dental clinic is offering more than just a bright smile in the snowy season.
“I appreciate being a dental assistant, the variety of different patients that I see and the variety of different procedures that I see,” said Tina Sprague, Dental Assisting program director, highlighting the vastness of dental assisting as a field and as a service to the community.
The WCC Dental Clinic is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the next six weeks starting Feb. 11–not including the week of spring break. Located in the Occupational Education building, in room 106, the clinic offers several services: cleanings, x-rays, and fillings, just to name a few.
Sprague explained that, along with treatment, the clinic checks patients’ vital signs–a service some patients don’t receive for a year or more, depending on their visits with a doctor.
“A cleaning is not just a cleaning; it’s a preventative procedure,” Sprague said. On top of this, it’s a restorative measure, different from oral hygiene (brushing and mouthwash), which primarily serves to maintain cleanliness. It’s noteworthy the clinic doesn’t only serve the community, but the college too.
Students in the dentist assistance program are required to complete “community dentistry rotations,” which give them experience assisting dentists in different offices, including the WCC clinic. The program allows students to observe and assist dental practices in the clinic while being supervised by a dentist licensed by the Michigan Board of Dentistry.
“I feel like, in a way, they help us prepare for the real world outside of dentistry and in dentistry,” said Shabree England, a student majoring in dental assisting at WCC. England acknowledges that becoming a dentist is a rigorous path, but dentistry is a service that feels good to provide–easier than preparing to be one.
Alexis Smith, studying social work said, “they clean your teeth, and sometimes they give you a free toothbrush,” a complement both of going to the dentist as well as the dental clinic at WCC. One downside of going to the dentist, according to Smith, is, “you can’t see what they’re doing.”
To schedule an appointment, call 734-973-3332 or visit the campus dental clinic website for more information. Cash and checks are the only accepted payment methods, and payment is expected at the time of service.
Dental Clinic Pricing
| Service | Price |
| Radiographs (X-rays) | $15 |
| Cleaning | $15 |
| Simple Fillings | $20 (per filling) |
| Flouride Treatment | $5 |
The clinic is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 am to 4 pm from February 7th, to March 27th.
Cash payment is expected at the time of service.
