ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A department in the UNM School of Medicine says they’re meeting the needs of students while serving New Mexicans.

The University of New Mexico Division of Dental Hygiene is serving people with low-cost dental cleanings, sealants, X-rays and oral cancer screenings.

“Our appointments are lengthier because it’s an education setting, but our patients really enjoy that because they feel like they get a better thorough cleaning because they have the students there and they have the instructors multiple times and they do get final checks before they leave,” said Justine Ponce, a professor of dental hygiene at UNM.

Offering dental care for people gives students a way to prepare for real-world settings they’ll be in after graduating.

“It’s a great experience for the patient and the student because our students can learn on a variety of patients and that comes from the community and that’s very appreciative,” Ponce said.

Essentially, Ponce adds, if there are no patients, then students can’t get hands-on training.

“If you’re the patient coming in from the community, you’re just impacting and making their education even more valuable and giving them more opportunities to finish the requirements and ultimately finish their career and graduate. So, if they don’t have the patients, they can’t do that,” Ponce said.

Insurance isn’t a barrier either. UNM is working to ensure the care is available to everyone in New Mexico.

“We here and we’re willing to accept literally anyone,” said Sofia Valverde, a dental hygiene student at UNM.

Nicole Gonzales, a professor of dental hygiene at UNM, stopped by to talk about the cost and quality of their care, in the video above.