Over its 80-year history, the 天美影视传媒 School of Dentistry has trained many of whom stay in Washington. But the School鈥檚 service doesn鈥檛 start at graduation. UW dental students, faculty members and community volunteers provide free care to communities across Washington, serving hundreds of patients each academic quarter.听听
The UW鈥檚 community collaborations span the state. In recent months, the School of Dentistry has offered care in, and, alongside monthly service days at Union Gospel Mission in Seattle and quarterly mobile clinics. Patients receive oral health exams, fillings, tooth extractions and cleanings.听
鈥淭he work we do in communities across the state is a great example of why the UW is often called the University for Washington,鈥� said Andr茅 Ritter, dean of the UW School of Dentistry. 鈥淭hese programs and partnerships advance the mission of the UW and the School in significant ways through education and clinical care.鈥澨�
The clinics are organized through the School鈥檚 Office of Educational Partnerships, which is solely focused on improving the oral health of people in the Pacific Northwest. OEP coordinates outreach programs that address the distinct needs of each community. Dental students have the opportunity to serve in outreach clinics or act as mentors for middle- and high-school students, encouraging them to pursue dental education and eventually serve their own communities.听听
Dental students typically begin seeing patients near the start of their third year. At the UW, however, students have the opportunity to work in clinical settings in underserved communities the summer after their first year through the听听
The School also offers a specific educational track that trains dentists to work in rural and underserved communities. Operated in conjunction with Eastern Washington University and the UW School of Medicine, the program 鈥� 鈥� has seen over 80% of its graduates return to rural and underserved communities across the Pacific Northwest.听
鈥淥ral health is an essential part of overall well-being, and everyone deserves access to high-quality dental care,鈥� said , a UW clinical associate professor of pediatric dentistry and director of the Office of Educational Partnerships. 鈥淲e recognize that it is our duty and privilege to serve those who need it most.鈥澨�
听The UW School of Dentistry will continue its service and outreach programs throughout the fall and winter quarters. For more information or to learn about upcoming service days, contact Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu.