The community service component of the Fones School of Dental Hygiene is renowned among dental hygiene programs.
Its
purpose is to continue the community outreach philosophy of Dr. Alfred
C. Fones, applying the theories and concepts of public health when
providing oral health care to community populations.
The Fones
students and faculty provide oral health education, screenings,
preventive services, and referrals to more than 9,000 people annually
in Southwestern Connecticut and adjacent regions. The Fones School of
Dental Hygiene is an important health delivery resource in the Greater
Bridgeport area and is highly regarded in Connecticut as well as
nationally.
Dental and dental hygiene professionals
recognize the name of the Fones School as standing for excellence in
the education it provides to future dental hygienists and, most
notably, for its outreach and public health services, which are
considered innovative and models for other dental hygiene schools
across the country.
These services are provided by students
enrolled full-time in the accredited educational program leading to an
Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene and are supervised by
Connecticut-licensed dental hygienists.
Community facilities visited during rotation include:
• Yale-New Haven Hospital Dental Clinic
• Norwalk Hospital Dental Clinic
• Southwest Community Health Center
• Jettie Tisdale Elementary School
• Cornell Scott Hill-Health Corporation
• Public and private school children in grades K-12
• Head Start/Day Care/Nursery School children
• Pregnant adolescents
• Mentally, physically and/or emotionally challenged groups
• Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers
• Homeless shelters
• Nursing homes
• Senior centers
• Adult Day Care centers