MECC Dental Assisting Program Provides Free Dental Care to Local Students
BIG STONE GAP, VA – The Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) Dental Assisting Program recently provided essential oral health services and education to local children through two major outreach events.
On Wednesday, February 26, MECC Dental Assisting students visited Norton Elementary Middle School to celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month. Students read oral health-themed books to each class and engaged children in hands-on learning, allowing them to practice toothbrushing skills on puppets. Thanks to the generous support of the MECC/Slemp Foundation Mini Grant Program, each first-grade student received a free hygiene bag to take home. This marks the third consecutive year MECC has partnered with Norton Elementary Middle School to promote oral health awareness.
The following day, Thursday, February 27, the MECC Dental Assisting Program sponsored a Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) Day at Wise Primary School. In collaboration with clinical volunteers from Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center, the event provided free dental exams and fluoride treatments to participating Pre-K through 2nd-grade students. In total, the services, care, and products provided during GKAS Day were valued at an estimated $48,681. Additionally, every child and staff member at Wise Primary School received a free dental hygiene bag.
Dr. Emily Bowen, MECC’s Dental Assisting Program Director, emphasized the importance of the event:
“Give Kids A Smile Day launched in the US over 20 years ago, but to our knowledge, MECC’s program is the first officially sanctioned GKAS event in Southwest Virginia. We started with Wise Primary Pre-K students last year, and we more than doubled our outreach within the school this year. This is particularly important in Central Appalachia where there is a dramatic dental shortage, and some kids may not get annual exams. While it is a small drop in the bucket, our hope is that clinical screenings and educational initiatives like GKAS will encourage healthy habits in these children for years to come. As they launch their careers, events like this also benefit our college students who can see the need for public health and patient literacy first-hand.”
Wes Mullins, Dean of Health Sciences, highlighted the broader impact of these efforts:
“These two dental events provided an incredible opportunity to our local children for essential dental care and education. Ensuring kids have access to quality oral health services sets the foundation for lifelong well-being.”
These initiatives were made possible through the generous support of the Slemp Foundation, the Give Kids a Smile Foundation, and MECC’s valuable community partnerships.
For more information about MECC’s Dental Assisting Program, contact Dr. Emily Bowen, ebowen@mecc.edu.