CFCC expands dental clinic to meet growing need for dental hygienists

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Cape Fear Community College has unveiled their new dental clinic lab.  

Located in the new Health and Human Services building, the clinic is already being utilized by students. 

“And so, through the years, we found the funding with help of county commissioners, and ultimately the state of North Carolina, helped fund to purchase this building and also the renovations of it,” says CFCC President Jim Morton. 

Cape Fear Community College President Jim Morton says this clinic will help address the growing need for more dental hygienists in the cape fear. 

“This clinic is going to provide that, and with our great supportive students, our great instructors, we’re very excited about this. It’s fascinating to see,” said Morton. 

Program director for the dental assisting program, Linda Mayton, says the new facility has allowed for larger student enrollment, as well as more spaces for students to get hands on training. 

“We went from, um, 10 operatories to now 30, so that allows us to serve more in the public, and then it also allows us for an enrollment increase. Last, two years ago, we were able to have 18 students coming in and now we’re up to 30,” says Mayton. 

With more dentists moving to the area, the demand for hygienists continues to rise. Mayton says the clinic is a crucial step in meeting that need. 

“You know, we’re trying to keep up with that capacity as well, but in doing so, we were able to expand this clinic so we’re hoping to answer the call, make sure that our students are going to be ready when they are going out in rotations.”