PRCC students provide special dental care

Dental hygiene students at Pearl River Community College got some extra experience Friday, March 18, when they hosted Give Kids A Smile Day at the Forrest County Center.The annual event, sponsored by the South Mississippi Dental Society, pairs kids from the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club with the PRCC students.About 20 children got their teeth cleaned and examined and learned the proper ways to brush and floss their teeth.It was fun, said TiUndra Ford, 11, a student at Lillie Burney Elementary School.The PRCC Dental Hygiene Clinic regularly treats patients, but most of them are adults. Give Kids A Smile Day gives the PRCC students extra experience in dealing with children, said Dr. Stan Hill, director of the PRCC program.This event gives me the opportunity to work with children and show them the proper way to have good oral hygiene, said student Jessie Speed of Collins..The event also gives area dentists, who check the children teeth and recommend follow-up care, a chance to give back to the community.It important to promote dental education and it a way for us to do something a bit more for the public we serve, said Dr. Barbara Mauldin of Petal.Dr. Lana Clarke of Hattiesburg Family Dental Care also participated in the event.

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.