Dental Hygiene Students and Faculty Provide Back-to-School Dental Screenings
(August 18, 2025) - In partnership with the community, Clayton State University dental hygiene faculty and students recently provided back-to-school dental screenings for dozens of school-age children.
Patricia Smith, Dental Hygiene Clinical Instructor, was so happy to see so many parents from the community bring their children by for back-to-school dental screenings, saying that “approximately 50 children received dental screenings and oral care products.”
This year’s annual Back-to-School Community Engagement Program was hosted at Antioch East Baptist Church in partnership with our community collaborators in Ellenwood, Georgia. Clayton State has provided back-to-school screenings for numerous years since the inception of the dental hygiene program more than five decades ago.
“This is one way we both give back to the community and provide valuable training for our dental hygiene students,” said Dr. Naquilla Thomas, Dental Hygiene Department Chair at Clayton State University. “Students in the dental hygiene program have the potential to significantly increase their earnings and social mobility with a rewarding career upon graduation. But the best part of this community event is seeing all those young smiling faces.”
About the Clayton State University Dental Hygiene Clinic
Clayton State’s mission to be an integral part of the local community is evident in the work of our students and faculty in the University’s dental hygiene clinic.
Located on the campus of Clayton State University, the clinic provides dental hygiene services to residents seeking safe, accessible, and affordable preventive oral care.
Additionally, dental hygiene students help promote good oral care and gain practical experience by treating patients under the supervision of dental hygiene faculty members.
The clinic offers several services, including oral health screenings, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatment, nutritional counseling, and teeth whitening services.