The SIU Dental Hygiene Clinic held an open clinic Friday to help kids get the school exam they need before classes start this fall.
In Illinois students in kindergarten, second, sixth and ninth grade are required to have a dental exam performed by a licensed dentist.
If they don’t, they will not be allowed to register for the following year.
The SIU School of Health Sciences offers a dental hygiene clinic that’s open to the public year-round.
They also have special clinics for children ages 3 to 17 to fulfill the states requirements that offers exams, cleanings, and fluoride treatment free of charge to families with an Illinois medical card.
Clinical Instructor Jennifer Meyer says they have these clinics because the region has a shortage of providers for pediatric dentistry services.
“We're just kind of trying to put a dent and help school nurses because they feel the stress of not receiving those school exam forms and trying to find the children a dental home or a dentist to even see them to write those exams. We're just trying to help parents and families ease into the school year a little bit more and.”
All 25 appointments were filled two hours after announcing the clinic.
