Calhoun dental hygiene program fills a demand

Nov. 16—Mia Allard should have no problem getting a job as a dental hygienist.

Allard, 22, of Decatur, is a student in Calhoun Community College's dental hygiene program. One of only two such community college programs in the state, Calhoun's program had a 100% job placement rate last year.

"When I was younger, I always liked going to the dentist. It never scared me," Allard said. "I would look at teeth videos on YouTube. It never bothered me."

Allard is one of 11 second-year dental hygiene students at Calhoun who will graduate in May. She said she will be looking for a dental hygienist position locally.

"I'd always thought about doing something in the dental industry, but I didn't really know about hygiene school until I did some research," Allard said. "I talked to my parents about it, and my mom knew a little bit more than me, and she just told me about it. It was something I decided to look into, and I just liked what it had to offer."

Allard said she has learned that the local community lacks proper dental education.

"I think the most important thing is just being open with your patients and not judging them and giving them a safe environment to come to you and talk to you about their needs and what they're going through," she said.

Allard also said the flexibility that comes with the job was enticing.

"Nurses, I feel like they work longer hours and have more work to do," she said. "This is kind of more flexible in what you do throughout the week and just how many patients you see and what you're doing."

Allard said her favorite part of being in the program is giving back to the community.

"I like when we go out and do the kids' screenings and talk to people about dental hygiene because people really don't know as much as you think they know," she said. "It feels good for not only you but for them to learn what you're saying, and they really engage (with) what you're saying."

Sunnie McWhorter, Calhoun's dental hygiene program director, said Calhoun and Wallace State Community College are the state's only two community colleges offering a dental program. She said Calhoun started its program in fall 2021 and first class of 12 students graduated in May. All found dental hygienist jobs by the summer.

"We designed the program from scratch, really," McWhorter said. "In north Alabama, there's a massive labor shortage for dental personnel: assistants, hygienists, dentists. So, it was just perfect timing that our program started right then."

McWhorter said the program is trying to improve the state's oral health.

"Alabama has a very high percentage of periodontal disease. We also have a very high percentage of tooth decay," she said. "Anything we can do as a school or just as a group of future oral health providers, we want to do that. We're working hard to be a light in our community. We want very much to improve oral health care."

McWhorter said she hopes her students take certain things away from the program when they graduate.

"Obviously, we want them to have the knowledge and the skills to perform quality oral care, but really, it's just a love of people and a love of helping people and using that love in our small area of influence where we can make a difference," she said.

McWhorter said Calhoun also has a dental assistant program.

"When you go to the dentist, generally there's a dentist that does the work and there is a person who sits chairside with the dentist and assists — passes instruments back and forth, they take the X-rays, that type of thing. So that's a dental assistant," she said. "A dental hygienist is the person you see when you're getting your teeth cleaned."

Celena Otey, 25, from Huntsville, is a second-year dental hygienist at Calhoun and will graduate in May. She said she originally studied for a degree in K-6 education, but she always wanted to be a dental hygienist.

"It was always either education or dental hygiene," Otey said. "Even in high school, those were my two paths."

Otey said she still found a way to get to dental hygiene.

"When it opened up here, I already had the prerequisites, so I was like, let me give it a try," she said. "I enjoy it. I like the work. I feel like you could have a good work/life balance. They work probably four days a week. It's just a good environment and job demand, too."

Otey said she may practice locally after graduation, but she is also interested in being a traveling hygienist. She said she also still has a desire to teach.

"I feel like I can still have teaching opportunities with this degree. I could probably teach it one day," Otey said. "Maybe one day I can have a class and teach people like me."

Otey said she always enjoyed going to the dental office while she was growing up.

"I feel like sometimes in life you just gravitate toward things and that's your path," she said. "No matter where you stray off, God will always put you back on the path you're supposed to be on."

Otey said the most important thing she has learned in the program is that it is not just about a pretty smile.

"Everyone needs their teeth to function well. You don't have teeth just to be smiling in everyone's face," she said. "You need to have teeth so you can chew, so you can do all those things. It gives people confidence. We have a need for that. They lack confidence."

Calhoun's dentistry program holds a dental hygiene clinic at the Decatur campus Monday through Thursday. McWhorter said the second-year students see about 40 patients a week from the community and organizations.

Otey said she has enjoyed giving back to the community though the clinic.

"I'm learning, and it's going to benefit me but I'm also giving back at the same time," she said.

The clinic offers 14 services including cleanings, dental X-rays, fluoride treatment, tooth whitening, and treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis. The cost is $30 per appointment, which goes toward supplies. To set up an appointment with the clinic, call 256-306-2815.

—erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460.