Dental Hygiene Clinic Offers Services to Community Members

MIDDLETOWN – Community members are invited to take advantage of the Dental Hygiene Clinic at SUNY Orange. The clinic, which accommodates approximately 1,700 patient visits per year, is operated by the College as a learning/training facility for students in the College’s Dental Hygiene degree program and provides a low-cost dental hygiene option for cleanings and x-rays.

Patients can visit the clinic, located in the Bio-Tech Building on the College’s Middletown campus, to learn about good oral health practices, have their teeth cleaned or dental x-rays taken for a nominal fee. In addition to cleanings and x-rays, the clinic provides polishing restorations, sealants, custom fluoride trays, custom athletic mouth guards, nutritional counseling, and health history screenings. Dental treatments such as fillings, extractions, and dentures are not part of the services offered at the clinic.

Hours of operation during the Spring semester (mid-January to early May) are: Mondays from 9 a.m. to Noon; Tuesdays from 1 to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to Noon and from 1 to 4 p.m.; Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m.; and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m. Fall semester (late August to December) hours are different and can be accessed via the College web site at www.sunyorange.edu. The clinic is closed when the College is not in full session, as well as during the summer and semester breaks.

Patients should remember that the clinic is operated for teaching purposes, and only individuals who are considered suitable cases for teaching may be accepted. Treatment will be performed by a student and supervised by a faculty member. It usually requires more time than if a similar task were to be performed in a private office. The patient must plan on remaining for the entire appointment time and be prepared for several return visits.

Senior Citizens (ages 60 and older), veterans and students are charged half of the regular fees.

Additionally, SUNY Orange Dental Hygiene students will be taking their licensing board exams on May 8 and 9. Anyone interested in serving as a patient during either of those days should contact the clinic. For more information call (845) 341-4315.