Cégep Garneau yesterday inaugurated new state-of-the-art dental hygiene facilities where students can practice and offer dental cleanings for as little as $30.
The new school-clinic, which required investments of $13M, looks like a private clinic in every way, with state-of-the-art facilities. The clinic has been in existence for 30 years and a facelift was in order.
Not only have the laboratory, classrooms and clinic-school been brought up to date, they are also now equipped with the latest equipment in the field, such as virtual impression devices, 3D printers, simulators with mannequins and digital radiology.
“We are really very proud of this beautiful project. It’s one of our major projects for the past 10 years anyway,” said Patricia Poirier, director general of Cégep Garneau.
Catherine Bouchard
Guylaine Turcotte, Coordinator of the Dental Hygiene Techniques Department (left) and Patricia Poirier, General Manager of Cégep Garneau in the specialized laboratory.
The services of the clinic-school are offered to the general public and students will therefore be able to practice cleaning in professional facilities, but at an advantageous price ranging from $30 to $35. Future hygienists are also very stimulated in the new learning environment. The cégep already has a bank of approximately 3,000 clients.
“Students in the cohort that will complete [bientôt] lived the old [clinique-école] and see the new premises, are starting to use the new devices, so yes, they are very excited,” underlines Guylaine Turcotte, coordinator of the Dental Hygiene Techniques department.
Catherine Bouchard
The new mini-clinic, where students can learn on mannequins and follow their teacher in real time on a screen.
Respond to the shortage
With this facelift, Cégep management hopes to eventually be able to double the cohort – which currently stands at 42 students – in order to respond to the labor shortage that is rife in several fields.
“We hope so, yes. I think so [on peut doubler] because we are one of the programs in Quebec where we have the best facilities,” argues Ms. Turcotte.
Catherine Bouchard
One of the clinic-school’s radiography rooms, where students can experiment with panoramic radiography of the teeth.
The old equipment was donated to three non-profit organizations so that they could provide dental care to people in need.
Moreover, in the interests of sustainable development, the criteria for carrying out the rejuvenation of the clinic-school required the use of recycled materials as much as possible and eco-responsible management of the demolition.