MCC Dental Assisting gets digital imaging equipment
Monday / April 3, 2017
Dental Assisting students use the new dental imaging equipment in the MCC Dental Clinic. Students pictured are, from left, Roxana Zazueta of Marshalltown, Rachel Pinkerton of Grinnell, Haley Kilborn of Marshalltown (seated), and Nancy Tellez of Marshalltown.
Not surprisingly in today’s high-tech world, “digital imaging” has taken the place of traditional radiation x-rays in dental offices. The Marshalltown Community College Dental Clinic recently received grant funding to purchase new digital imaging equipment so MCC students will be well-trained in using the new technology once they’re in the workforce.
“The dental imaging equipment cuts radiation exposure by 40 to 60 percent in comparison to the use of traditional analog” explains Tamara Damman, MCC Dental Assisting Faculty. “Most dental offices now use digital imaging, so we’re pleased to have this new equipment in our facility for training purposes.”
The new digital imaging equipment cost $22,000. The MCC Dental Clinic will save even more long-term because there will be no added costs for fixer, developer and chemicals to process the images, as was the case with film. The digital images are immediately available on the dentist’s computer screen, saving the time (and cost) of developing x-rays.
“Our students will still be trained to operate traditional x-ray equipment because some dental practices still use it, but this new digital equipment ensures that their MCC education will be state-of-the-art,” Damman adds.