Georgian College’s affordable dental clinic a hidden gem accepting new clients   

Nov. 7, 2024

Margaret Pratt needed a partial denture but couldn’t afford it, even with dental benefits.  

But then she discovered Georgian College’s Oral Health Clinic, which is open to the public, looking for new dental hygiene and denturism clients, and offers services at affordable prices.  

“I had resisted getting dentures because, even though I have benefits, the amount I would have to pay on top of my benefits was more than just getting the work done here,” says Margaret. “More of the public needs to know about it.”  

‘It’s so calm. Everything is so easy’

Marie Comeau also needed some denture work and has had a “fantastic” experience at Georgian’s Oral Health Clinic.  

“Cost-wise, the regular dentist wants so much more to do the same work. It takes a little longer here, but it’s so calm. Everything is so easy – it’s one step at a time,” says the Barrie resident, adding she gets along “really well” with the Denturism student with whom she’s paired.  

“It’s very important to help students get experience. Where else are we going to get the next generation of denturists?” 

The Oral Health Clinic offers about 250 appointments per week:  

• Prices range from $10 to $450, depending on the service.  

• Pediatric clients (ages 12 and under): Dental hygiene services, including X-rays, are waived for the rest of the year.  

• Students from the Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene and Denturism programs provide care under the guidance of certified dental assistants, registered dental hygienists, licensed dentists and registered denturists. 

• Treatments: The clinic offers dental hygiene care, restorative and denture services for adults and children, including teeth cleaning, X-rays, fillings, dentures and repairs, teeth whitening, sealants, sport mouth guards, tobacco use cessation, dietary counseling, and more. 

• Book an appointment: For dental hygiene care, contact 249.388.0046 or anna.heaselgrave@georgiancollege.ca. For denturism care, contact 249.388.1098 or paula.kelly@georgiancollege.ca. Day and evening appointments are available.  

• Parking for clients is included in the appointment fee.   

• The clinic is open to everyone. Dental insurance, government assistance or Canadian citizenship is not required. 

Dental clients treated like family   

Marie is paired with Shannan Carlisle, a third-year Denturism student, who says clients are treated like family.  

“They’re just as nervous as us when we first see them. By the time you get to the third or fourth week, you’re family. I don’t like discharging them – it’s like saying goodbye to family,” she says.  

Denturism is a specialized field, and Georgian students get a ton of experience in preparation for and while working with clients.  

“I have multiple dental degrees and this one by far supersedes a lot of the other programs because you have more of that clinical expertise. Right from your third semester you’re seeing clients, and now we’re in our sixth semester and it’s pretty much all client-care based, so we’re set up for success once we graduate,” Shannan says. “I absolutely love the program. It’s local, and it’s fast-tracked so you’re in school and into the employment field faster.” 

Dental clinic clients save money, help students  

Oro-Medonte’s Joanne Greenway and her adult daughter, Janice Preece, are both clients at Georgian’s Oral Health Clinic and say they’ve recommended it to everyone in their neighbourhood.  

“The students are very nice. They’re getting well trained. My teeth have never been in better condition,” says Joanne, who’s had teeth cleaning and X-rays done at the clinic.  

I recommend it to anyone who’s retired and doesn’t have any dental coverage because it’s a very reasonably priced way to have your teeth looked after. You have to be willing to allow the time that’s required for the students, but I tried a private dentist, and she did exactly the same thing as the students, so I’d rather support the students.

Her daughter, Janice, was a medical representative for 30 years and says she loves the thoroughness of the students’ work at Georgian’s clinic.  

There’s a lot of interaction between the student and the patient and the instructor. It’s not like you’re thrown to the newbies and you’re afraid because they’re inexperienced. Everybody’s involved in making sure you’re satisfied and the student has done their job. I was so impressed that, even if I could afford to go to private clinic, this was a way better situation in terms of the attention that you got.

Janice, who has had teeth cleaning, X-rays and a cavity filling at the clinic, says she and her mom take full advantage of the college’s many other student-led services they consider hidden gems in the community, including the Georgian Dining Room, massages, acupuncture, facials and pedicures. 

Dental clients a ‘bigger part’ of their treatment plans 

At the Oral Health Clinic, client care is “exceptional,” says Paula Kelly, Denture Client Liaison and Dental Assisting faculty.  

They are walked through each process. The discussion takes place regarding what each appointment is going to entail and reviewing that with the client. Sometimes when you’re at a private care clinic, it just moves very quickly. This is a slower process, so it allows that patient or client to ask more questions and to feel they are a bigger part of that treatment that’s happening.

Dental clinic convenient for families

While most of the clients at the clinic are adults, it is also open to pediatric clients for a flat fee of $15. For the rest of 2024, all pediatric dental hygiene services are being waived.

“There is a little bit of a time commitment – a handful of appointments or less – so children aged 3 ½ to 12 are ideal because they’ll have to stay seated in a chair,” says Anna Heaselgrave, Dental Hygiene Liaison and Clinic Support. “It’s a very comprehensive appointment, and this also gives them access to sealants and many preventative services.”  

The clinic also has client families with multiple children, so they can coordinate their appointments to be at the same time for convenience. 

The students are always very excited to have an experience with a pediatric client, and it’s part of their learning requirements to be successful in the program. They’re always warmly welcomed in.

‘The takeaway is massive’ for dental clients  

The clinic is also a great place for any clients nervous about going to a dentist’s office, adds Anna.  

“Because we are a slower pace, we’re able to kind of handhold and make sure the client knows what’s coming next. Clients are really pleased with the attention to detail and the care provided because we have the time,” she says.  

“Clients may have to do multiple sessions, but if they have the time to give, they get a lot out of it. They often learn something new about their own oral health status and have picked up a new way of improving their home dental care. The takeaway is massive.”