Dental Hygiene Clinic Offers Low-cost Services to the Community
For over four decades, the Dental Hygiene Clinic at Fresno City College has been dedicated to student success in the Dental Hygiene program and serving the Central Valley by bringing in patients who can receive dental services at an affordable cost. The clinic ensures dental hygiene students have the best environment to get hands on training.
Appointments are now being accepted for this semester. Patients can make an appointment in person or with a phone call to 559.244.2601. Students are guided step-by-step in the process because each patient is a learning case to help students develop the right techniques. This can make the appointments between two to four hours in length.
An estimated 3,000 patients visit the clinic annually to receive treatment from students. From teeth cleaning to full X-rays and oral cancer screenings, patients of all ages can access a variety of dental care at affordable prices.
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dental Hygiene Therapy (Cleaning) | $15.00 |
| Full Mouth X-rays | $15.00 |
| Bitewing X-Rays | $ 5.00 |
| Panorex X-Ray | $10.00 |
| Sealant | $ 5.00 |
| ITR’s (temporary fillings) | $ 7.00 |
Note: Fees are due the same day of service
The Dental Hygiene clinic first opened in 1972, and the first class graduated in 1974 consisting of 20 students. Holding a high program completion rate, 25 - 30 students complete the program every year. More than 900 graduates have completed the program since its beginning. Overall, graduating classes have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination by 90 percent. “Students are our number one priority,” says Joanne Pacheco, Director of Dental Hygiene. “We invest in the students first, so that they can be invested in the community.”
In the skills lab, for every five students there is one faculty member supervising each patient’s treatment to prepare the students for their career. Pacheco emphasizes, “I am proud of our students and our diversity. We are turning students into professionals where they will have a career that is will last their lifetime.”
For the past 20 years, the clinic has also extended its services to the community. Students participate in a number of community events. “I am not in it for the money, said Jessica Capistran, a first year student in the program. “Ever since I was a child, I have had compassion for people, and I want to help them smile every day.”
View more information on the FCC Dental Hygiene program.
