CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS — Later today Del Mar College will be hosting an open house to celebrate the school's “Golden Anniversary” for its dental programs.
The Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs started in 1969 with only 12 students. Since then Del Mar College has graduated more than 1,500 dental students.
Del Mar College is celebrating 50 years of their dental programs with an open house from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Health Sciences Building 1, West Campus at Old Brownsville and Airport Road.
“We are going to give them a lot of information. We have stations set up with our faculty and our dental hygiene students, and we will provide them education on brushing, flossing, the proper techniques, and provide them on any information they need on our clinic,” said Del Mar College dental hygiene Associate Professor Marion Tajchman.
These programs have been an essential part of the college’s history.
“This community has really benefited from our students, and they have to provide quality care because we are grading them. So they don’t walk out of here with just things halfway done, and the students know this, and this is one of our higher standards we adhere to making sure they are competent,” said Tajchman.
While the technological advances and procedures have changed through the years, a constant in the success of Del Mar College’s dental programs remains their faculty and students.
"I have been here 23 years so I have seen, and I have had dental offices from San Antonio, from Houston, from Victoria, from the Valley, call and say, 'do you have any graduates? We want Del Mar graduates.' That is how I think what speaks highly of our program,” said Tajchman.
“When I graduate I want to work at a private office, but I also want to help and go to rural areas to help the underprivileged community,” said Del Mar College dental student Paola Diaz.
The dental students do far more than clean patients’ teeth.
“We look for any abnormality in the gum and tissues around the teeth, we take x-rays, do fluoride varnishes, fluoride rinses for any age group, and we also provide sealants. And of course the main thing is education,” said Tajchman.
For more information about the 50th Anniversary Open House or the College’s Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs, contact the DMC Dental & Imaging Technology Department at 361-698-2858.
Individuals can also learn more about both programs by visiting www.delmar.edu [delmar.edu].
