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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A dental therapist program is providing eight weeks of free dental care to students in Fort Simpson.

Five dental therapist students, under the guidance of an instructor, are running a dental clinic at Bompas elementary school. The clinic is part of a two-year dental therapy program offered by Health Canada, said Kathy Wilson-Walsh, an instructor with the program.

Kristen Hoover, left, puts the finishing touches on a cavity filling for Starr Lafferty. Hoover is one of five dental therapist students working a clinic at Bompas elementary school. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

In their first year the dental therapists focus on academics and practice on models. The second year includes hands on practice and an eight-week practicum in the field.

The program was founded on the idea of providing dental care in remote and Northern communities. The practicum allows students to gain clinical experience while providing dentistry to a community that doesn't have a regular dentist, said Wilson-Walsh.

The eight-week period also gives students an exposure to the North.

"They get to see what the Northern communities are like," she said.

The students benefit from the practicum and so do some of the residents of the community they're based in.

"A big part of our focus is children," said Wilson-Walsh.

All of the students at Bompas elementary school and Thomas Simpson school who had consent forms signed will receive free dental care. Students from schools in other Deh Cho communities might also be brought in for care. The costs of the treatments are covered by the program's budget from Health Canada, said Wilson-Walsh.

Dental therapists provide primary dentistry. They can do exams, fillings, extractions and emergency care. They also do stainless steel crowns and root canals but only on primary teeth. They differ from dentists who can do all those procedures and others on both primary and permanent teeth.

In addition to fixing existing dental problems, the therapists will also be doing classroom presentations to teach students how to prevent future cavities.

"We can drill and fill all we want but unless we get the message out about prevention we won't help the community," Wilson-Walsh said.

The five therapists, who are from Saskatchewan and Alberta, arrived in the village on Jan. 30.

"This is definitely a new experience for all of us," said Melanie Hupaelo, from Saskatoon, Sask.

Hupaelo, who started in the field by working at a denture clinic, said she decided on the dental therapist program because the work is personable.

"It's more geared towards your patient. Your patient isn't just a number," she said.

All of the therapists said they've felt very welcomed by the reception they've received from residents.

"The community has been so awesome. Everyone has been so friendly," Hupaelo said.