The SAIT Dental Assisting Program is currently looking for more patient so that the students can get hands-on experience. Though all treatments are performed by students they have all been taught how to do them and every procedure is under supervision of licensed faculty. They’ve tried to reach out via email and posters around the halls but those efforts haven’t reached many students nor staff, even the ones that work in the same building. The lack of awareness about the clinic serves as it’s biggest challenge in attracting more patients.
The clinic is tucked away on the fourth floor of Senator burns and around a few corners making the only way to really find it by following the signs, this makes it both hard to find for both the SAIT community and those outside. The other challenge about it being tucked away is that when people don’t see something they either forget it exists or had no clue in the first place.
“I had no idea SAIT had a dental clinic, that’s pretty cool,” said Daniel Stephenson, a staff member at SAIT.
“I did not, this is the first time I’m hearing about this actually,” shared Chelsea Cavanagh, a SAIT student.
“I had no clue either,” added Mitchell Carlson, another SAIT student.
This lack of awareness is one of the challenges the clinic faces, but it’s not stopping the program from offering dental services at an affordable cost. Even going as low for $5 dollars for a cleaning for students.
“I think I would definitely go if it’s affordable,” said Cavanagh. “I mean, I would wonder about the quality if it was only $5, but I’m assuming it’s just to keep it cheap for students. So yeah, I would definitely go.”
To address the lack of awareness, staff like Neil Egsgaard suggest the clinic could benefit from better advertising, particularly in low-income areas where affordable dental care is needed the most.
“I think there’s probably a lot of options to advertise for low-income areas, whether that’s students or people in the city who may not afford a traditional dentist,” Egsgaard explained. “We could put information out through newsletters, social media ads, or even online platforms to increase awareness.”
As the SAIT Dental Assisting Program continues to provide quality care at an affordable price, there’s a clear need for better visibility and outreach. With increased advertising and awareness, the clinic could connect with more patients, benefiting both the students gaining hands-on experience and the community seeking cost-effective dental services.
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