Oak Ridge Today

Roane State dental hygiene students continue outstanding performance on board exam

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This unblemished record by graduating members of the Roane State dental hygiene program remains intact.

For the sixth consecutive year, 100 percent of the class passed the rigorous Dental Hygiene National Board examination on their first try, said Melinda Gill, program director. The students’ scores place Roane State dental hygiene students in the top 3 percent nationally of the more than 300 accredited dental hygiene programs where dental hygiene students take the exam, Gill said.

“I’m very proud of the students’ accomplishments and their dedication to success,” said Gill, who became program director six years ago.

Students took the national exam in March. The comprehensive exam features a lengthy blend of multiple choice questions and detailed questions about dental case studies. Only 12 students are selected each year to participate in the college’s dental hygiene program, and more than 100 routinely apply, Gill said.
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Pictured with director Melinda Gill, center, are members of the Roane State Dental Hygiene class who continued the department’s perfect record on national board, for the past six years. Front row, from left: Veronica Koon, Carrie Wheeler, LaTosha Wiggington, Jessica Rickman, and Natalie Beeler. Back row, from left: Kelly Tallent, Hannah Fox, Rachel East, Gill, Katie Zielinski, Bianca Gordon and Sydney Bailey.

Dental Hygiene Clinic at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus provides vital service

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Roane State Community College Associate Professor Melinda Gill, director of the college’s highly regarded dental hygiene program, stands outside the dental hygiene clinic, located in the Coffey/McNally Building on the Oak Ridge branch campus. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State Community College Associate Professor Melinda Gill, director of the college’s highly regarded dental hygiene program, stands outside the dental hygiene clinic, located in the Coffey/McNally Building on the Oak Ridge branch campus. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

The doorway into Roane State’s Dental Hygiene Clinic can be overlooked at times. It’s D-107, off the atrium and across from the library of the college’s Oak Ridge campus.

Unbeknownst to the casual passerby, it’s the entrance to a college program regarded as one of the top in the nation.

Inside:

  • a classroom outfitted with the most current dental teaching implements;
  • six spotless operatories/treatment rooms containing dental chairs, computers for inputting patient records, and the latest treatment technology;
  • two X-ray rooms with digital X-ray capability—one with panoramic X-ray equipment—and a room where X-rays are developed; and
  • a receptionist’s area along with a small office.

[Read more…]

Roane State Dental Hygiene Program awarded grants

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Roane State dental hygiene program director Melinda Gill stands in the college’s state-of-the-art dental clinic at the Oak Ridge campus. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State dental hygiene program director Melinda Gill stands in the college’s state-of-the-art dental clinic at the Oak Ridge campus. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

The Roane State Community College Dental Health Clinic has received three grants for its free monthly clinics for area residents who have limited access to dental care, said associate professor Melinda Gill, director of the college’s dental hygiene program.

  • The clinic was awarded a $2,500 Community Action Grant from the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club to underwrite two Saturday morning clinics to serve Roane County residents.
  • The United Way of Anderson County has funded a $1,000 discretionary grant to purchase a high-speed handpiece used in filling cavities. With the addition of that second apparatus, it will increase the number of patients who can be treated, Gill said.
  • Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee has awarded a $5,000 grant to purchase dental equipment and materials to support the operation of the clinic to better serve the dental needs of the patients. This grant was in collaboration with Mid-East Community Action Agency.

[Read more…]

Roane State dental hygiene student receives scholarship

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Oral Surgery Specialists of Tennessee representative Scarlett Valentine, left, presented Roane State student Kelly Tallent with a $1,500 study abroad scholarship. (Photo courtesy Roane State Community College)

Oral Surgery Specialists of Tennessee representative Scarlett Valentine, left, presented Roane State student Kelly Tallent with a $1,500 study abroad scholarship. (Photo courtesy Roane State Community College)

 

Roane State Community College dental hygiene student Kelly Tallent of Lenoir City received a $1,500 study abroad scholarship provided by Oral Surgery Specialists of Tennessee.

The scholarship will be used for Tallent’s study abroad experience in spring 2017. Roane State dental hygiene students travel to Costa Rica each year to provide preventive care services to children. [Read more…]

Roane State dental hygiene students earn honors

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Roane State dental hygiene students Kim Palmer (left) and Crystal Morse won first place at a state competition for their display on silver diamine fluoride. (Photo by RSCC)

Roane State dental hygiene students Kim Palmer (left) and Crystal Morse won first place at a state competition for their display on silver diamine fluoride. (Photo by RSCC)

 

Two Roane State Community College dental hygiene students won first place at the annual Tennessee Dental Hygiene Association table clinic competition in Chattanooga.

Students from five dental hygiene programs presented displays that represented their research on a dental hygiene topic. Roane State students Kim Palmer of Lenoir City and Crystal Morse of Friendsville won for their display on silver diamine fluoride.

“I am very proud of our students and their hard work,” program director Melinda Gill said. “This is the third year our dental hygiene students have competed, and we have placed every year.” [Read more…]

Roane State dental hygiene students help at Ronald McDonald House

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Roane-State-Dental-Hygiene-Ronald-McDonald-House

Roane State Community College dental hygiene students recently prepared breakfast for 27 family members staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Knoxville. Front row kneeling starting from left are Guerin Bearden, Leslie Setzer, Atoosa Aval, Lorelei Glenn, and Lubov Jestes. Back from left are program director Melinda Gill, Miranda Carpenter, Kim Palmer, Melissa McAllester, Angela Whipp, and Bruna Rose. (Photo by Roane State)

 

Roane State Community College dental hygiene students recently prepared breakfast for 27 family members staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Knoxville.

The Ronald McDonald House is open to any family with a child, age 21 or under, who is receiving medical treatment at an area hospital, including East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

For more information, visit http://knoxrmhc.org.

Healthcare employers invited to participate in Roane State job fair

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Employers are invited to participate in a March 4 job fair for Roane State Community College students who are pursuing careers in health care and plan to graduate this year.

The fair is planned for Wednesday, March 4, from noon-3 p.m. at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Avenue. The event will be held in the Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building. Setup begins at 11 a.m. [Read more…]

Honors: Roane State dental hygiene students place second in state competition

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Roane State Dental Hygiene Students

Roane State dental hygiene students, from left, Bethany Brisson, Laci Carroll, and Jessica Swanger created an award-winning table display about the transfer of bacteria from parent/caregiver to child, resulting in tooth decay. (Submitted photo)

 

Three first-year Roane State Community College dental hygiene students recently won second place at the Tennessee Dental Hygiene Association, or TDHA, table clinic competition.

The students—Bethany Brisson (Maryville), Laci Carroll (Clinton), and Jessica Swanger (Kingston)—attended the TDHA’s annual conference in Franklin. Their research table clinic was about the transfer of bacteria from parent/caregiver to child, resulting in tooth decay. Their work was awarded second place in the competition.

The students competed against six other dental hygiene programs from Tennessee. [Read more…]

Roane State students collect food for local food banks

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Roane State Food Drive

Roane State students collected food for local food drives. Front row, from left, are students Rebekah Sullivan and Kelli Green, medical transcription program director Linda Marsh, students Paul Charpie and Summer Hammontree, dental hygiene program director Melinda Gill, and students Emily Scruggs and Jessica Ankrom. (Submitted photo)

Students in Roane State Community College’s dental hygiene program and medical transcription program teamed up to collect food for area food banks.

The academic programs are located at the college’s Oak Ridge campus. The students collected the donations for various food drives in Oak Ridge.

“The project gives students an awareness of people who have a need,” said Linda Marsh, director of the medical transcription program. “We are in a depressed economy, and I think it’s important for students to give back to the community.”

[Read more…]