The dental hygiene program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe recently received $2,500— its sixth grant from energy company, Entergy, in support of the Mobile Dental Hygiene Unit at ULM. Since 2012, Entergy has donated a total of $14,500 to the program.
Entergy is an integrated energy company serving over 2.8 million customers in four states.
The check was presented by Roderick Worthy, Entergy Customer Service Manager, and four Entergy service employees. The funds will continue to support the provision of dental hygiene treatment to children and adults in the northeast Louisiana parishes.
Dr. Benny Blaylock, dean for the College of Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences said, “The Dental Hygiene Program provides an excellent educational experience for its majors as well as providing dental hygiene outreach to northeast Louisiana through the Mobile Dental Hygiene Unit. Since 2010, thousands of people have received dental hygiene care that might not have been available otherwise. Through the continuing generosity of Entergy, support for patient outreach and professional dental hygiene education opportunities will continue.”
This semester, the mobile unit is stationed at Caldwell Parish High School where dental hygiene services are being provided to children at four schools in Caldwell parish. Supervised by licensed dental hygiene instructors, students provide teeth cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, oral cancer screenings, patient education, and nutritional counseling.
The Mobile Dental Hygiene Unit is a satellite clinic administered by the ULM dental hygiene program. The ULM Dental Hygiene Clinic first opened in 1972 with only 10 operatories. The program now has 23 operatories, including those on the Mobile Dental Hygiene Unit, at the campus clinic located in Caldwell Hall, and a satellite clinic at Riser Elementary and Middle School. More than 2,000 patients receive dental hygiene treatment in these three ULM clinics each year.
