News

The Harbour View dental clinic is starting the school year off with a new look.

The clinic, located in Harbour View School near Highfield Park in Dartmouth, NS, was outfitted with brand new A-dec dental chairs and lights over the summer.

“This is a much-needed upgrade as the clinic has been using equipment that is over 30 years old,” says Janice Ruppert, one of the clinic’s dental assistants.

This upgrade means that dentistry and dental hygiene students from Dalhousie University, who provide dental care at Harbour View, will be able to work with the same equipment used in the Dalhousie clinic. This creates consistency and makes it easier for the students to learn. It will also help dental staff keep up with the fast-paced nature of the clinic.

“Time is of the essence when working with children,” says Janice. “Now we don’t have to worry about equipment being slow or breaking down.”

The full-service clinic started as a mobile trailer in 1986 at a nearby school. In 1989, the trailer relocated to the outside of Harbour View School before being permanently moved to the basement of the school in 1990. The clinic also services nearby John MacNeil Elementary and Bicentennial School with help from the Boys and Girls Club bus.

On average, the staff can see up to 22 patients a week and the clinic gives these children access to a regular dentist regardless of their circumstances. The clinic is a win-win situation as the students get the experience they need to be more confident when treating children, and the children get access to dental care they otherwise may not receive.

“The students love coming here and they enjoy the experience because everyone involved wants to be there,” says Janice. “The kids will follow me down the halls asking when is it their turn. When the dental students graduate, they are much more likely to treat children now that they have had the pediatric experiences at Harbour View.”

In addition, Janice says the school’s staff has also shown great appreciation for the clinic.

“The staff here are wonderful and they always say how lucky they are to have a clinic in the school,” she says. “They also include us in all of their school activities, which is great!”