This summer, West Coast University students visited multiple communities in Southern California to help educate diverse populations on the importance of oral health.
As part of their community dental health project class, the WCU-Orange County dental hygiene cohort provided dental health knowledge at sites including No Limits Learning Center, Boys & Girls Club, Arbor Palms of Anaheim, and Head Start.
“In their project, they determine the needs of the population, then create a lesson plan with activities to present,” WCU-OC dental hygiene instructor Mary Ann Pederson said. “Each participant receives oral hygiene products and is encouraged to practice the new habits they learned.”
Not only did this collaboration allow students to help instruct adults living with disabilities, children, seniors, and others in need; it also provided an opportunity to see how impactful a direct connection with community members can be, Pederson said.
“We leave each experience as better dental health care educators, and better humans,” she shared.
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