Carrington College in Mesa: FREE Dental Services *Select* Days in April!

Anyone out there like me who despises going to the dentist? UGGGHHH! Don’t like it. At all.

I will preface by letting you know I took my 4 year old to the dentist late last year…  You don’t want to know the outcome. It took me a while to get over that appointment. Several days later I got a HUGE bill in the mail. I was like "What the heck is this?? Helloooooo….I mean, we pay through the NOSE for dental. And she was THREE TIMES what my payment was….."

WHY?? I mean, it’s ridiculous. Now I know why MY parents NEVER took us to the dentist. Mom used to say "Don’t eat that gumball, I can’t afford to take you to get your tooth fixed if it breaks….." -hahaha! We thought she was cheap…. little did we know dental was so pricey.

Anyways, I got this great info from a reader today. Worth a read…

Carrington College in Mesa is offering FREE dental hygiene cleanings, X-rays, exams and fluoride treatments on select days through April.  Under the supervision of an Arizona dentist, students perform the FREE services, which are appointment only, below during the following hours during the month of April:

• 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  & 5 – 9 p.m. Tuesdays
• 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays
• 8 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays.
• 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Fridays

The clinic is located at 1300 S. Country Club Drive, Suite 2, Mesa. 

Lynne Berman, dental-hygiene program director at Carrington College, formerly Apollo College, said providing a way for students to give back to the community is an essential part of a dental-hygiene education.

"It greatly impacts and speaks to our mission of our program and the development of our students," Berman said. With families strapped for money, Berman said, many don’t have the resources to go to a regular dental office for treatment.  Children and adults who come to the clinic often have severe dental problems, including periodontal disease and tooth decay. "I think families all over are reaching out," she said. "People want to provide services for their children. It’s not like they’re bad parents, but if they don’t have the financial means . . . it becomes extremely difficult."

Allie Dewitt, a student six months into the two-year dental hygiene program, said working with the public has helped her and her fellow students grow in the field. They see a wider variety of patients than they would if they just treated friends or family members, she said. "It’s just a different variety of people that come in when you’re offering free services – people that are really in need," she said. "It definitely has helped us have a range of things to see and to learn from and to take on." 

Appointments are required for the FREE services, and can be made by calling 480-717-3510 and leaving a message.

Thanks Bev for the info!