The College’s Community Dental Center (formerly the Heartland Dental Clinic), which provides comprehensive oral health care primarily to Medicaid recipients, has announced new hours.

Center staff now see patients 12 hours per week, up from the previous four hours, because of a substantial increase in service requests.

"We are doing whatever we can to put a dent in the number of patients that we can see. There is such a tremendous need," Sandra J. Maurizio, faculty supervisor of the center, said.

In fact the center added a third dentist in June to help serve the 40 to 50 patients the clinic sees each week.

The primary clients of the center are Medicaid recipients in Southern Illinois, but there are also limited funds available to serve low income or uninsured residents.

Children receive preventative and restorative care, including cleanings, fluoride, sealants, restorations, crowns and extractions. Adults receive restorative care and prosthetics, including full dentures and crowns. The center will refer patients for extensive dental services when necessary.

In addition to providing a service to the community, the dental center provides a learning opportunity for students. Patients receive care from fourth-year dental hygiene students, dental technology students, faculty dentists and volunteer dentists from the region.

"Working in the center gives us a realistic view," said Julia L. Heuring, a fourth-year dental hygiene student. "It's a great opportunity for students because they get to see what private practice is all about," noted Danna P. Cotner, faculty dentist, who has been working at the clinic since it opened in 2000.

Dental technology students also gain experience through fabricating dentures and crowns for patients. "Service learning gives our dental technology students the ability to develop their skills for the real world. Not only are our students fortunate to gain the experience of providing provisional partial dentures and mouth protectors for children and crowns and dentures for adults, but also the patients are fortunate to get prosthetic services. These services would be scarcely available for Medicaid patients without this center," said John R. Winings, program director and associate professor in the dental technology program.

The Rotary Club has provided two volunteers as receptionists for the center since it opened.

Providing service learning opportunities and outreach activities are among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the SIUC strategic plan.

During the fall and spring semesters, the center, which is located on the south side of the Applied Sciences and Arts building is open Monday from 5 to 9 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 AM to noon. During the summer, the center is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

For more information about the SIUC Community Dental Center, call 618-453-2353.