CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Each year, Parkland College accepts one-third of all people who apply for the dental hygienist program. While the need is high in Illinois, the school doesn't have the space to train more people.
However, the program will receive $3.5 million in federal funding through the Congressionally Directed Spending process. The funding will allow for a physical expansion of the school's dental clinic. The space is used to train students and provide care for community members.
"Our clinic serves more than 400 new community members each year by providing preventative services that support both oral and systemic health," said Laura Hettinger, director of the dental hygiene program at Parkland College. "This new facility will allow us to increase that impact by approximately 40%, improving access to early interventions and preventative care."
Hettinger said many of the services they provide are either free or $10. Parkland College President Pamela Lay stated the school provides more than $550,000 in free or low-cost dental care each year. It's something the school and Sen. Dick Durbin said is critical for many central Illinoisians.
"24% of the dentists in Illinois take Medicaid patients, only 24," Durbin said. "80% of the doctors take Medicaid patients, there's a great disparity ... and we need to find reimbursement and other incentives for more dentists to treat low-income families."
Durbin said in some parts of the state, children with Medicaid are waiting a year between diagnosis and treatment to receive care. This is paired with a shortage in Illinois of dental professionals.
The new space will expand training opportunities and community outreach.
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