Regis College celebrated the grand opening of the university’s dental center in Waltham. The center is a high-tech educational facility that serves as the new clinical home for the university’s dental hygiene program that was acquired from Mount Ida College last year.
“This is a proud day for Regis College, which is committed to providing innovative learning opportunities in real-world settings that serve our community,” said Regis President Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN. “The center provides low-cost dental care to patients and prepares our students to enter the work force immediately after graduation.”
President Hays, who led efforts to take over the dental hygiene program after Mount Ida unexpectedly closed, was joined by students, staff and faculty to cut the ribbon on the new educational facility. Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy presented President Hays and the university with a city proclamation to commemorate the opening.
“This center is a marquee facility for the university and places Regis in the top tier of dental hygiene programs across the country,” said Denise Tetreault, associate professor and director of the university’s dental hygiene program. “Here, in a fully operational dental center, our students gain the critical real-life experience they need guided by our excellent faculty and staff.”
“I am thrilled to call myself a Regis student and soon enough, a proud Regis graduate,” said senior Sarah Lipocky, a dental hygiene major. “After Mount Ida closed, I could not have imagined that I would be standing here right now ready to finish my college career in such a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility.”
The fully equipped center features 20 dental care bays, a full complement of x-ray technology and a laboratory space. The center provides low-cost dental care to patients including dental cleanings and exams, teeth whitening, x-ray services, periodontal assessments and oral cancer screenings. The center is now open and accepting new patients.
The university’s dental hygiene program provides a strong foundation in biomedical sciences. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and offers both associate and bachelor of science degrees.
