Word of Mouth: The university’s dental clinic opens wide to find new customers

The Georgian College Dental Hygiene Clinic opened wide today (November 4) to show off the services it offers to the public.

The student-run clinic on the Barrie campus provides oral health assessments, x-rays, teeth cleanings and preventative services as students learn and sharpen their skills.

Marie Comeau of Barrie was at the clinic Monday to get dentures and says she appreciates the school’s services.

“It gave me the teeth I needed because I didn’t have teeth on one side or on the top,” she said BarrieToday.

Comeau saw an ad on Kijiji asking for people who needed full or partial dentures.

“I had been thinking about it for a long time. I needed a partial denture, upper and lower, so I called and here we are,” she said.

“The quality is fantastic. They take it step by step and it takes a little longer, but that’s okay because then you get dentures,” Comeau said with a bright new smile.

Georgian College students work alongside a team of dental experts, so clients help students gain important, hands-on experience to prepare them for the job market.

Ashlee Lockyer, a student in the denturism program since 2019 and a native of Maple, says she loves the large, bright learning space available to her and the other students.

“I’m also a dental assistant and being able to provide replacement dentures to the elderly means so much to me in changing their confidence and brightening their smiles, and being able to allow them to go outside without any barriers,” she says. said.

Margaret Pratt, also of Barrie, had her upper teeth partially replaced in college. She has also worn a partial one for over 50 years.

“This place is absolutely amazing,” she said. “I don’t think the public is very aware of that because sometimes they have trouble getting enough people to speak to their students.”

Pratt has three grandchildren who are of high school and post-secondary school age.

“The ability to have cooperative placements is essential for hands-on programs,” she added.

Students are heavily called upon to recruit their own customers.

“I wish we didn’t have to do that because they already have a lot on their plate when it comes to learning,” said Lisa Buchanan, director of clinics and placements at the university. BarrieToday on Monday.

“It is also a good practice for them because they will become practitioners one day, so it is good for them to understand how to acquire clients and how to talk to denture clients,” she added, noting that word of mouth plays a major role. still the best way to find customers.

Buchanan says the denture clinic sees approximately 200 to 250 clients per week during their 14-week semester.

Some of their dental clients receive disability benefits, such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

“Some people don’t qualify for the full amount of the Canadian Dental Care Plan depending on their income, and it’s still very expensive to have dentures made, so we’re filling that gap for what people need ,” Buchanan said.

Visit them for more information about the university clinic’s services website.