STLCC Foundation Receives Grant from Delta Dental for Specialty Equipment

The St. Louis Community College Foundation was awarded $12,000 from Delta Dental of Missouri’s Oral Health Grant program in November 2021. The funds will be used to purchase two intra-oral, pediatric-sized radiograph sensors for use in the College’s dental clinic at its Forest Park campus. 

The walk-in dental clinic at Forest Park has seen an increasing number of pediatric patients. STLCC students in both the dental hygiene and dental assisting programs are required to expose diagnostic radiographs on all patients. However, without adequate size radiograph sensors for pediatric patients, this task was virtually impossible to perform. Digital technology also allows dental professionals to show parents exceptional images, and diagnose dental cavities in kids faster, better and more safely and easily  than with traditional X-rays. 

“Delta Dental is providing our students with tools they need to both learn and to serve our community through the dental clinic,” said Julie Fickas, Ed.D., STLCC-Forest Park’s president and chief academic officer. “We are grateful for their support of the work we are doing to make sure that we are providing the much-needed training for the jobs the students will be filling when they leave us.” 

STLCC’s dental hygiene program prepares auxiliary health care providers to earn expanded function certificates and licensures to practice in the state of Missouri. Students receive practical experience and learn to perform a variety of assisting and hygiene procedures through extensive classroom, laboratory and clinical instruction.  

Students are required to understand materials used in intra-oral and laboratory procedures, form and function of structures of the oral cavity and oral diseases. They also must understand pharmacology related to dental procedures, and the scientific principles of radiography. 

The gift from Delta Dental of Missouri was received in the final fundraising stages of the college’s “Opportunity for All: A Campaign for STLCC” strategic initiatives campaign. To date, the campaign has raised $23,071,385. Contributions to the campaign help STLCC students succeed by providing scholarships, access to success programs, support for temporary and unexpected financial hardships and more. 

This is the second oral health grant awarded by Delta Dental of Missouri to the STLCC Foundation. In 2019, another grant supported the purchase of 15 new Polaroid wireless intra-oral cameras for the STLCC dental clinic.  

About Delta Dental of Missouri
Delta Dental of Missouri is the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It provides more than 2.1 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care as well through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area.