Orem, UT — Utah Valley University (UVU) celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new 24-seat dental hygiene lab and community clinic on the university’s Lehi Campus last night, which will be used to train dental hygienists and provide free and low-cost care to approximately 3,000 low-income community members.
Prior to the new facility, the dental hygiene program only had access to 15 chairs-workstations, now there are 24, making it possible to train more students. In addition to the lab, the university’s respiratory therapy program and Police Academy — Peace Officer Standard and Training programs, will be housed in the building providing extra space and workstations.
“The new clinic and increased student capacity will enable us to better meet community needs by educating more dental hygienists and providing low-cost dental care services,” said Sue Jackson, associate dean of UVU’s College of Health and Public Service (CHPS).
According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, dental hygiene is a five-star job for the Provo/Orem metropolitan area, with a 41.32% expected need increase from 2020 to 2030. This area will need 63 new dental hygienists annually to keep up with the growth and turnovers.
The UVU Dental Hygiene Clinic provides high-quality oral health care services to the local community at a fraction of the cost of private dentists. Services include dental cleanings, periodontal scaling and root planning, fluoride applications, dental x-rays, dental hygiene diagnosis, dentist exams, referrals, bleach trays, night guards, prescription fluoride, sealants, local anesthesia, and nitrous oxide administration.
For more information call 801-863-7608, or see: https://www.uvu.edu/dental/clinic.html
About Utah Valley University
At Utah Valley University, we believe everyone deserves the transforming benefits of high-quality education — and it needs to be affordable, accessible, and flexible. With opportunities to earn everything from certificates to master’s degrees, our students succeed by gaining real-world experience and developing career-ready skills. We continue to invite people to come as they are — and leave ready and prepared to make a difference in the world.