Mar 20, 2008 - 09:10 AM

By Josie Newman

OSHAWA -- Hair stylist Laura Evelyn met her dental hygienist, Tracy Dawn Mees, when she came to Ms. Evelyn for a haircut.

Ms. Mees, a dental hygiene student who graduates in April from Durham College, has seen approximately 30 clients during the past year. She's one of 48 students who work on customers' teeth on a daily basis at the new Durham College dental clinic.

"I had no idea this clinic even existed until I met Tracy. It doesn't take that much longer here and it's cheaper. I'm a hairdresser so we don't get insurance. I'm a single mom, so it's really expensive to get dental work done," says Ms. Evelyn, as she leaned back in her chair and opened her mouth wide, her teeth glistening with a pink disclosing solution that highlights plaque.

She's not alone in being unaware that a less expensive alternative to a dentist visit exists in Durham Region, according to Donna Pegg, a faculty member at the school and a registered dental hygienist.

"Most of the clients we have are repeat customers and heard about us originally through the students," says Ms. Pegg. Although the clinic started back in 1977, its capacity doubled in September, 2005, when the new clinic opened. There are 24 work stations in the new clinic, allowing half the hygiene students to do practical work at the same time.

First-year students in first semester are only allowed to work on dental pucks, sets of teeth attached to the headrest of a chair by a clamp. They then move on to live subjects and, by second year, each student sees at least 30 clients per year, says Ms. Pegg.

The high-tech clinic cost approximately $1 million to build. Each work station is equipped with knee-operated faucets to prevent germs from getting on the hygienists' hands while they're working, and a television screen that plays CDs of procedures students are learning. A sterilization room with several machines that sterilize instruments and two X-ray machines complete the equipment roster.

While students are working on clients' teeth, they are assisted and overseen by four registered dental hygienists and a dentist. The dentist changes on a daily basis and is part of a pool of local professionals, says Ms. Pegg.

Once the students are registered hygienists -- a process that involves taking a board exam one month after graduation and waiting another four to six weeks for results -- they can do assessments of the mouth and gums, fluoride treatments, pit and fissure sealants, X-rays, and client-specific oral treatment without the approval of a dentist.

In September, 2007, the Ontario legislature gave dental hygienists more autonomy and authority by making an amendment to the Dental Hygiene Act of 1991. Authorized dental hygienists, following a comprehensive assessment, can now proceed with scaling, root cleaning, and curettage without the order of a dentist. This means under-served communities, like seniors' homes or First Nations' reservations, can now get desperately needed basic dental work, said Ms. Pegg.

"I'm enjoying the program, especially the hands-on experience," says Maarika Lepik, a second-year student originally from Richmond Hill. "I'm excited about learning in the new facility and on state-of-the-art equipment. It's nice to have the opportunity to interact with the clientele who come in. I've worked on kids as young as five to seniors in their 80s. Many of the clientele are from Oshawa, Ajax, Brooklin, and Pickering." Ms. Lepik took a general arts and sciences program at Durham College and graduated in 2003, then worked as a dental receptionist and assistant for two years before applying to the dental hygiene program.

The clinic is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as well as Tuesday and Thursday evenings. For more information or to book an appointment, call 905-721-3074.