The vans go to many different locations and serve a variety of patients, from children to culturally diverse populations, from rehabilitating meth users to homeless folks. Many people come to the van because they are in pain and have no where else to go. Dental hygienists can be of great value to triage, take X-rays, anesthetize, and facilitate. There even are moments when there's time to do a gross scale or educate a patient as to effective oral hygiene. The van manager will tell you the population they are serving that day and what you can do to help. They will assist you in locating whatever you need. The hours worked are generally from 9 am - 2 pm (so it's easy to squeeze it into your schedule). It's common for a hygienist to volunteer just one day a month. The experience will open your eyes! The real world is entirely different than what we tend to see within the four walls of the private dental practice. Please consider being a part of our efforts. It's gratifying, sometimes frustrating, and always interesting, with lots of fun mixed in.

If you have questions, call Laurie Johnson, RDH, at 503.705.0268 or email ljohn@pcez.com.