Middlesex Community College is proud to offer dental services through the college’s state-of-the-art Dental Hygiene Clinic. Located in Lowell, the clinic allows students in the program to practice their skills under supervision of a dental hygienist while serving the community.
“Our goal is to provide anyone who needs dental care the opportunity,” said Sam Farrington, an MCC dental hygiene student, of Townsend. “Our clinic provides the most affordable and best care available. This clinic goes above and beyond the standard of care for all our patients and we do much more than just clean teeth. My favorite part of what I do in clinic is providing patients with positive dental experiences.”
Choosing MCC because of the college’s high rate of success passing the boards, Farrington is excited to learn something new every time she works in the clinic. She enjoys working with instructors, watching how they interact with patients and problem solve in the moment. After graduating from Middlesex, she is interested in helping to bridge the gap between healthcare and oral healthcare.
For Ashley McIntyre, an MCC dental hygiene student, of Billerica, Middlesex offers a flexible schedule to complete her degree while working. With a passion for healthcare, she learned about the dental field when attending Shawsheen Valley Technical High School. Middlesex allows her to build on her knowledge of dental assisting, expand her skills, and take on more responsibility in the industry.
“These skills and experiences are preparing me to enter the field as a competent, confident and compassionate dental hygienist,” McIntyre said. “The outreach we do in the community has also given me opportunities to engage with individuals outside the clinic, expand my communication skills, and provide education and preventive services to those who may not otherwise have access to care.”
Keyanna Figueroa, of Lawrence, took dual enrollment classes at Middlesex while she was a student at Greater Lawrence Technical High School. The combination of her experience at MCC and her interest in dental assisting led her to enroll in the college’s dental hygiene program. Learning from her professors’ instruction and patients’ feedback, she is proud to make a difference within the community while developing her skills.
“This program is so in depth with everything and the information they give us is really valuable,” Figueroa said. “The professors we have here are very helpful and are always there for us when we need them. Just knowing you’re surrounded by people who care for you is important. I know everything I learned here I will be able to take with me to the outside world and it will continue to help me grow.”
Featuring high-end equipment, MCC’s clinic offers resources and experiences for students to learn industry practices. Middlesex dental hygiene students provide direct patient care under extensive education and training, as well as have demonstrated competence in clinical services before treating the public. Open weekly from September through May, services are available to all students, faculty, family, friends and community members.
MCC’s Dental Hygiene Clinic works with patients of many backgrounds and languages, providing interpretation using LanguageLine. Offerings include medical history and blood pressure, oral cancer screening, dental and periodontal cleaning, oral health education, individualized treatment planning, scaling (cleaning), deep scaling, and fluoride therapy. Other services include dental sealants, custom athletic mouth protectors, individual x-rays, and full mouth x-rays.
“The clinic welcomes patients of all ages and proudly serves the Lowell community, including students, faculty and staff,” said Elizabeth Stone, MCC’s Professor of Dental Hygiene and Community Outreach Coordinator. “This hands-on learning environment ensures students gain valuable experience while helping the community receive individualized care.”
The Dental Clinic is located at 44 Middle Street in MCC’s Talbot Building in Lowell. Learn more about MCC's Dental Clinic, including pricing and hours.