Dental Hygiene Program celebrates National Dental Hygiene Month
(October 9, 2024) - For a department that’s currently all smiles, October couldn’t be more appropriate for Clayton State’s Dental Hygiene Program.
National Dental Hygiene Month, an initiative started by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), returned to Clayton State University’s campus once again with Dental Health Awareness Day event on Tuesday, October 1, in the University Center.
With Crest and Oral-B serving as sponsors, the event served as an “opening ceremony” to kick off a month of oral hygiene awareness events, including local outreach with nearby Head Start programs and the Clayton County Water Authority.
A “Dental Dash at Dawn” 5K race to support dentistry for the developmentally disabled will also be held on Saturday, November 2, with registration ending on Friday, October 18.
Tidanea Ramirez, president of the 2025 Dental Hygiene class, believes the university’s various events won’t just bring attention to the program, but also to their community outreach efforts and teachings.
“We want to reach out to people and promote oral health awareness,” Ramirez said. “This year, we implemented flossing and brushing techniques, which may seem silly. But a lot of people don’t know how to brush or floss. Having that on campus was huge for us because we wanted to encourage the preventative side [of oral healthcare] as well.”
Dental Hygiene Dept. Chair Dr. Naquilla Thomas added that the month is meant to celebrate those teaching oral healthcare, not just in south metro Atlanta, but nationwide.
Thomas stated that once people have the proper awareness, education, and support, it leads to action by means of proper oral care.
“The overall purpose of Natl. Dental Hygiene Month is to celebrate the work we do and promote the importance of oral health and oral health access,” Thomas said. “It's an opportunity for us to have a dedicated month to our profession, to raise awareness, provide education, and ultimately support and motivate our community.”
This annual month of appreciation for their studies, industry, and impact has led to many students feeling a stronger sense of pride and appreciation in both their professors and program here at Clayton State University.
Dental Hygiene Laker Kyla Watkins says that while oral hygiene is something that’s always taken seriously, Natl. Dental Hygiene Month is particularly special.
“It’s something we hold every year because part of dental hygiene is knowing your community and who you’re serving,” Watkins said. “We understand that not a lot of people are familiar with dental hygiene care, what you should be doing at home, how often you should be going to get cleanings ... sometimes they just don't have the resources.”
For Watkins, October’s festivities are a perfect representation of everything that both CSU’s program and celebrations have to offer.
But while she does encourage everyone to take advantage of them, she hopes the collective impact from the month’s events isn’t lost on the Clayton State community.
“A lot of people don’t even know that we have a dental hygiene clinic on campus that’s accessible to students at such a low cost,” Watkins said. “We do everything we can to make sure that we're getting information out ... but on Dental Hygiene Day, we make sure that we're going above and beyond and saving our community.”
Ramirez reiterated the university’s attempts to leave a positive impact on the community year-round, saying that, like Watkins, she too is seeing the effects of reaching out to all in Clayton County – both on and off campus.
“I have patients I've seen in the past coming back to me,” Ramirez said. “They're getting better because they're following what we talk about. It just feels great to have them [go] from active periodontitis to a healthy stage where they can maintain their oral health and not lose any more teeth. I am really proud to be part of the dental hygiene program in the university.”
For Thomas, the hard work of her students has not been lost on her as the Natl. Dental Hygiene Month celebrations continue.
While she enjoys October’s annual outreach and community events, what she maybe enjoys seeing the most every year is a personal preview of the future of both her state and country’s dental hygiene workforce.
The more time she spends with her students, the more she believes they will undoubtedly make instrumental impacts on the communities they reach both leading up to and after earning their degrees.
“I’m so grateful for this group ... we have been truly blessed,” Thomas said. “What motivates me as an instructor and gives me great peace is knowing that I can really make an impact in the lives of our students and, overall, in the healthcare system as a whole. Ultimately, there’s such a shortage [of] dental hygienists. So, I come to work every day knowing we are making a difference in the lives of our students as well as in healthcare, specifically in Georgia.”
In return, her students believe the same, thanks to everything they’re being taught here at Clayton State University’s Dental Hygiene Program.
“I’m really proud of my program,” Ramirez said. “Almost six years ago, I did my research and knew I wanted to be part of the Dental Hygiene program at Clayton State University. It’s one of the best programs in Georgia and I love it. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and makes me feel good knowing that the advice I'm giving my patients is helping them.”
“A lot of people are insecure about their teeth,” Watkins said. “Whether it's staining, broken teeth, cavities, decay, bad breath, a lot of those things play into people's insecurities. Once I realized that I was able to help people in that manner, it filled a hole in my heart that I never even knew was there. After I send a patient home, they're smiling even more than they were when they came in ... you can see their confidence levels increasing with each appointment. I’m proud to be a part of this program.”
For more information on the Clayton State University Dental Hygiene program, visit their website here.