MORROW, Ga. — Musa Sheikh fights tooth and nail to take care of his sisters. That fight brought him to Clayton State University's dental hygienist clinic.
“It’s very affordable, and it’s convenient," Sheikh said. "That’s family, so I definitely have to look out for them. Growing up, I didn’t have what they have right now. I didn’t have the opportunity of coming to the dentist and getting my teeth checked all the time.”
The dental hygienist program at Clayton State is celebrating 50 years this year. The program churns out dozens of dental hygienists who go out all across Metro Atlanta and the state. Assistant professor and senior clinic director Heather Eddy is teaching the next generation of dental hygienists how to provide a service everyone can smile about.
"We're the first ones the patients usually see when they come in, and we're the ones who build the rapport and gain the trust of the patients," Eddy said. "We provide cleanings, exams, radiographs, sealants, fluoride, and this can be hundreds of dollars and up depending on what's needed to be done."
Eddy said typically, cost and a lack of access to care can stop some people from getting the care they need. She said Georgia has close to two dozen dental deserts, which can lead to other health risks.
"If you're lacking in oral health, it can lead to a lot of problems," Eddy said. "There's cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, stroke, heart attacks. All of those things can be linked to poor oral health."
This week, the dental hygienist clinic is providing free services to kids ages 3-17. The clinic includes 14 chairs and sees nearly 150 patients a week. The faculty and staff are dental hygienists, and the clinic employs one dentist on staff as well. After completing the four-year program, graduates are able to take national and clinical board exams to get their licenses. Clayton State is one of the only schools on the Southside of Metro Atlanta to offer such a program. Eddy said the school typically accepts around 30 students each year.
"I think it’s really important to model that healthy behavior as a parent or caregiver of children, to make sure they’re learning that from an early age," Eddy said. “Diet, of course, is a huge part of that, watching the snacks and sugary drinks. Making sure that we’re brushing at least two to three times a day and flossing if we can get that floss in there once a day.”
Eddy recommends that patients visit the dentist as soon as the first tooth comes and one should visit the dentist every six months or so and more often if the patient has a more severe periodontal disease.
Mathilda Hoang will help fill the employment gaps left during the pandemic among dental hygienists. Hoang said she has enjoyed going to the dentist since she was a kid and has a fascination with helping people maintain proper oral care.
“Providing health services to patients is important to me as well because I really do enjoy helping people," Hoang said. "Healthcare isn’t just black and white. Every patient is different. Just being able to have that kind of privilege to treat everyone and be able to understand what they need specifically, it’s very interesting and also motivating for us as healthcare workers.”
In the meantime, Sheikh and his family are able to get the care they need at an affordable cost from healthcare workers who can relate to their struggles and experiences.
"If I have a particular problem with my teeth and it’s because of a food I’m eating, they know exactly what kind of food is causing it," Sheikh said. "The similar experience really helps out. It helps them to relate to me and me to relate to them. This saves a lot of money, and it protects my family's health, which is the most important thing in life."
For more information on the clinic and its services, click here.