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<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; While many may have a fear of going to the dentist, it was nothing but smiles at the Free Kids&#8217; Cavity Prevention Day on Saturday.</p><p>The event was held by Luzerne County Community College&#8217;s dental health program, in conjunction with a statewide outreach from the Pennsylvania Dental Hygiene Association.</p><p>Dental health students gathered at the Benco Dental Clinic inside the college&#8217;s Mary Gill Carrozza, R.N., Health Sciences Center, offering children and parents a wide array of free services, education and supplies.</p><p>Dental Health professor Julie Cleary said this is the eighth year the school has held the event, saying the school hopes to make the public aware of the low-cost Benco Dental Clinic, as well as help students achieve clinical hours they can use toward degrees and acquaint students with children and adult patients.</p><p>&#8220;The clinic helps develop student skills and create interpersonal relationships dealing with children,&#8221; Cleary said. &#8220;Students who participate may also get extra credit in classes, or put in hours to help met their clinical requirements.&#8221;</p><p>In the front of the clinic, first-year dental hygiene students were assisting parents and children by educating them on cavity prevention, and handing out educational pamphlets. At one table, a student was crouched down holding a stuffed dog while a child pretended to brush its teeth.</p><p>Through a set of doors there is a state-of-the-art, 24-seat clinic, complete with stuffed animals, balloons and take-home oral hygiene bags at every station. Over two dozen dental hygiene and dental assistant students were walking children and their parents through the free exam process, which included cavity checks, fluoride varnish, x-rays, sealants and more.</p><p>Cleary said the program&#8217;s students have a 99 percent passing rate on the national board exams for dental health. Students who are in their second year assist with patients, while first-year students help with educating adults and children.</p><p>Tanya Corvo, of Beach Lake, is in her second year as a dental hygiene student. Corvo participated in the program in the past as a dental assisting student, and chose to return this year. She said the clinic is excellent for acquainting children with dentistry in a pleasant atmosphere, as well as helping adults who may not have enough insurance or income to see a dentist regularly.</p><p>&#8220;I think (the event) is excellent,&#8221; Corvo said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a great preventative service we can provide, and it gets the clinic out there so people know there&#8217;s a low-cost option so they can get help.&#8221;</p><p>Cleary said throughout the year students will travel to various school districts, daycare centers and senior centers, providing flyers and informational packets.</p><p>In addition to Cleary and other faculty, the clinic had a dentist on-hand to visit and assist with children.</p><p>Dr. Ann McDonough, who has a private practice in Wyoming, helped with the event by examining the youngsters and educating students.</p><p>The students cared for more than 40 children before noon, and saw some familiar faces.</p><p>Caryn Cave, of Wilkes-Barre, returned to the familiar clinic with her children and niece.</p><p>Cave, who graduated out of the program in May and is now working as a dental hygienist in Drums, says the clinic is one of Wyoming Valley&#8217;s unknown gems.</p><p>&#8220;I know the value of this program and this day to acclimate children to this field,&#8221; Cave said while holding her niece, Josie, who just completed her free exam. &#8220;Children &#8212; and adults &#8212; have a common fear of the dentist. This is a great program to allow parents to bring a child in. It&#8217;s a fun environment for the children while helping to educate students on working with them.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Six-year-old Trystan Weeks, of Glen Lyon, brushes the teeth of Mr. Alligator during his visit to Kids&#8217; Cavity Prevention Day at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022816Dental_2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Six-year-old Trystan Weeks, of Glen Lyon, brushes the teeth of Mr. Alligator during his visit to Kids&#8217; Cavity Prevention Day at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke on Saturday morning. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022816Dental_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dental students Rachel Stynes, of Pittston, left, and Terie Oelke, of Harveys Lake, right, check the sealants of Gianna Dominick, 8, of Harveys Lake, during Kids&#8217; Cavity Prevention Day at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022816Dental_1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Dental students Rachel Stynes, of Pittston, left, and Terie Oelke, of Harveys Lake, right, check the sealants of Gianna Dominick, 8, of Harveys Lake, during Kids&#8217; Cavity Prevention Day at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke on Saturday morning. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022816Dental_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dental student Tanya Corbo, of Beach Lake, examines Treyton Mashanski, 6, of Nanticoke, during Kids&#8217; Cavity Prevention Day at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022816Dental_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Dental student Tanya Corbo, of Beach Lake, examines Treyton Mashanski, 6, of Nanticoke, during Kids&#8217; Cavity Prevention Day at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke on Saturday morning. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta></subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>Benco Dental Clinic fast facts</strong></p><p>&#8226; The clinic is open weekdays to all ages.</p><p>&#8226; The cost is $5 for children and $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens.</p><p>&#8226; For a complete list of days and times of the clinic, call (570) 740-0446</p><p>&#8226; The clinic&#8217;s next event is a free oral cancer screening which will be held in April.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Free Kids’ Cavity Prevention Day shows off Benco Dental Clinic in Nanticoke