OGLESBY – Illinois Valley Community College’s Dental Assisting Program will once again offer free/reduced-cost dental clinics for IVCC students, staff and the community.

Clinics are 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays, Jan. 29 through May 7 (excluding March 19) in the Dental Lab (B214).

Screening days for new patients only are Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 and include X-rays, a comprehensive exam, treatment plans and oral hygiene instruction. Recommended treatment will be scheduled.

Treatments are free for IVCC students and employees and qualifying patients are charged $30. The May 7 clinic is for small restorations at $25 per restoration.

The clinics do not provide any oral surgery, removable or fixed prosthetics (dentures/partials), orthodontic procedures or prescribe any medications.

IVCC Dental Assisting students have taken courses on Getting Ahead of the Next Stage of the COVID-19 Crisis as well as Interim Dental Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for the COVID 19 Response.

All IVCC faculty, staff, student and volunteering dentist will be following proper CDC guidelines, and wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.

Patients will be required to fill out a pre-screening form before entering the building, temperature checks at the door, and antimicrobial mouth rinses before treatment begins. Patients must present alone, unless they are a minor.

Dental assisting program coordinator Heather Seghi said, “Our students are excited to start their clinics to hone their skills. They need a required number of patients, so reliable patients are desired as there is not time for rescheduling missed or canceled appointments.

“We do have outside resources for those unable to have the cleaning completed in our clinic, and we are very happy to help in any way we can to ensure they receive the best care,” she added.

To schedule an appointment, call (815) 224-0227 or e-mail ivccdentalassisting@ivcc.edu.