BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation Grants Funds to The Greenville Tech Foundation for The Dental Hygiene Program

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The Greenville Tech Foundation is pleased to announce that the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation has awarded grants to support the Dental Hygiene program and its clinic at Greenville Technical College.

To enhance student learning and prepare them for successful careers in the dental profession, the Dental Hygiene program has utilized these gifts to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and supplies. This includes several DXTTR III X-ray Trainers, which enable students to gain firsthand experience in dental anatomy, positioning, and interpretation during X-ray procedures as well as an additional Nomad handheld X-ray system for X-ray training, remediation, and patient treatment. Furthermore, these grants have enabled them to purchase multiple innovative lasers, replace their low-speed handpieces, and buy various consumable supplies essential for the delivery of high-quality care in the clinic.

This collaboration between the Greenville Tech Foundation and the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation not only ensures continued exceptional care at the Greenville Tech Dental Clinic but also empowers the next generation of dental hygienists with the skills and expertise necessary for a successful career.

As the sole Dental Hygiene associate degree program in the Upstate region, Greenville Technical College plays a vital role in training future dental hygienists and meeting the preventative dental care needs of the community. Through the dental clinic, which serves as a public clinic, students receive direct training while providing essential oral healthcare services to low and moderate-income individuals. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the clinic aims to provide dental care to approximately 780 unique patients.

“The Greenville Technical College Dental Hygiene Program is very grateful for the funding provided by the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation to purchase equipment and supplies. We have been given the opportunity, with this funding, to purchase equipment to train, certify, and empower dental hygiene students with the most current and relevant technologies to provide the highest quality preventative and therapeutic dental care to their patients. The use of this technology and the certification of our future dental hygienists will benefit the college, the patients we serve, the dental hygiene profession, and the state,” said Traci Willimon, CDA, RDH, EdD; Academic Program Director, Dental Hygiene DEN.

The Greenville Tech Foundation extends its appreciation to the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation for their invaluable support. This grant will have a lasting impact on the dental hygiene program at Greenville Technical College and the overall health of the community. Together, we will continue to provide efficient, high-quality care and cultivate the next generation of skilled dental hygienists.