Health and dental appointments were part of the clinics in northern Saskatchewan. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Healthy Communities

Dental students perform nearly $50,000 worth of free work in La Loche

Oct 3, 2019 | 2:01 PM

The 2nd annual Northern Health and Wellness Days in La Loche and Clearwater River Dene Nation resulted in 99 patients having almost $50,000 worth of dentistry work done.

The event was made possible by Saskatchewan Polytechnic Dental Hygiene advanced diploma students, as well as Sask Polytech/University of Regina Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. They worked in partnership with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and dental health professional volunteers to host dental and health clinics in both communities.

“It started last year,” said Sandra Blevins, the Sask Polytech dean for the Schools of Health Sciences and Nursing. “It took a little bit different twist this year with us bringing students as well, and expanding it from only being dental, to also include nursing.”

Blevins stated the clinics occurred Sept. 27 and 28 with dental professionals providing oral exams, restorations, routine extractions, hygiene care and education. She added nurses and students provided health screenings, education and mental health supports. Schools in both communities were also visited by dental and nursing students who provided information on hand washing, oral hygiene and nutrition.

Blevins also mentioned for the students who attended it served as a clinical practicum, while for others who volunteered it was treated as an interprofessional education session. She said the session was meant to allow them to get more comfortable working around other professionals.

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“It was so heartwarming to see, not only how we were welcomed into the community, but for those 99 individuals who had a considerable amount of work done and care provided, they were very appreciative,” Blevins said. “It was the right care at the right time, so it was good to see we were able to make an impact on those folks.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno