Middlesex College Recognized for Innovations in Dental Hygiene Education with 2023 Teledentistry Award
Middlesex College’s Dental Hygiene Program has been awarded the 2023 Teledentistry Innovation Award, recognized for its integration of teledentistry into its curriculum and services.
(Left to Right) Nadine Thompson, faculty; June Ann Somma, adjunct faculty; and Michelle Roman, chair of Dental Hygiene Program
MouthWatch, the award’s sponsor, praised several aspects of the College’s program including the use of teledentistry to communicate synchronously and asynchronously with clinic dentists to provide on-site preventative treatment to underserved populations at pre-schools and schools for special needs students in New Jersey.
“It is truly an honor. We are excited about exploring additional possibilities of using teledentistry in our curriculum. This endeavor is designed to not only train future dental hygienists but also to broaden access to preventive dental care within our community,” said Michelle Roman, chair of the Dental Hygiene Program at Middlesex College, who accepted the award on behalf of the College at a ceremony in New York City.
The award caps off a momentous year for the 50-year old program. Earlier this year, the College celebrated the grand opening of a new Dental Hygiene Clinic with a ribbon cutting ceremony that brought together state and local officials, along with other distinguished guests including members of the College’s Board of Trustees and alumni.
The new Dental Hygiene Clinic has 24 treatment areas plus a demonstration room that allows for faculty to provide instruction and transmit it to each student throughout the clinic. The dental radiology area contains five lead lined rooms. New Kavo Intra-oral radiology machines have been installed in four rooms. The fifth room contains a digital panoramic machine.
About the Award
The Teledentistry Innovation Awards, which started in 2018, has five categories: Dentist, Hygienist, Oral Health Program, Educational Institution, and Industry Innovation. Past winners of the Educational Institution award include the University of Bridgeport’s Fones School of Dental Hygiene (2022) and Harvard School of Dental Medicine (2021). For a complete list of winners, visit teledentistryinnovationawards.com.
The awards sponsor – MouthWatch LLC – is a leader in the field of teledentistry. Through its powerful teledentistry platform, MouthWatch makes it possible for dentists and hygienists here in the U.S. and internationally to communicate more effectively with their patients in the dental chair or anywhere.
To learn more about the Dental Hygiene Program at Middlesex College, visit middlesexcollege.edu/academics/health-professions/dental-hygiene.
