Fanshawe College celebrates opening of new oral health clinic

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: BRAD KERR
The all-new oral health clinic at Fanshawe will act as a learning lab for students, as well as an affordable dental care option for members of the community.

On Thursday May 27, Fanshawe College celebrated the opening of a new oral health clinic. The clinic will not only be a learning lab for students, but an affordable dental care option for members of the community.

The college held a virtual opening ceremony on Thursday which featured Fanshawe president, Peter Devlin as well as Fanshawe’s Manager of Health and Wellness Clinics, Sylvie Richer.

“I am very pleased that Fanshawe has been able to continue construction during the last year, allowing us to move forward with our campus improvements,” said Devlin in his opening remarks. “This beautiful, state-of-the-art facility is a prime example of how the college has updated its facilities for current and future students.”

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The new clinic, located in A Building on Fanshawe’s London Campus, features 20 fully functional dental manikin simulators, a training sterilization center and a dental materials lab in the Simulation Clinic. The main clinic has 16 dental operatories which can expand into an additional six operatories, all equipped with the digital intra-oral radiography.

In the oral health clinic, students will be learning digital radiography, extra-oral panoramic radiography and infection control protocols in the one-way instrument reprocessing sterilization rooms.

Oral Health Clinic at Fanshawe CollegeDental students will use the new oral health clinic as a learning lab, with 20 fully functional dental manikin simulators. CREDIT: BRAD KERR

Services will also be offered to members of the community at an affordable price, with check-ups and cleanings costing $40 for adults, and just $20 for children. The students are fully supervised by registered dental hygienists and licensed dentists to ensure they learn clinical skills and the highest professional standards.

Fanshawe’s Chair of Board of Governors, Brad Duncan added that the facility would make for excellent hands-on learning for students in the college’s Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs.

“This vital, much-needed service is really a win-win for everyone,” said Duncan.

Richer, meanwhile, offered a virtual tour of the clinic, calling it a lovely space to be in that she was incredibly proud of.

“We’re delighted to share our clinics with you and share the work that we do,” said Richer.

Accessibility and community impact were at the forefront of the ceremony, and are also key factors in the clinic overall. According to the college, 70,000 Londoners are living in poverty and lack access to employer provided dental care.

“One of the many reasons why we’re so excited for the new clinic is our ability to address some of the unmet oral health needs experienced by members of our community,” said Professor of Dental Hygiene, Lara Timler.

“Our very own clinic allows us opportunities to partner with different agencies and explore unique ways of making preventive oral health care more accessible.” To book an appointment with Fanshawe’s oral health clinic, call 519-452-4494, or email the office.