CHATTANOOGA, TN -- A group of Chattanooga State Community College students in January traveled to Knoxville to participate alongside other colleges in a Remote Area Medical (RAM) dental clinic, which provides free dental care to patients in need. 

All told, 674 volunteers from 18 school groups saw 1,013 patients and delivered $591,007 worth of care during the three-day clinic. 

According to its website, RAM is a non-profit provider of pop-up clinics offering free dental, vision, and medical services to underserved and uninsured patients. Since its 1985 founding, RAM has treated nearly 1 million individuals and provided over $195 million worth of free services. 

In addition to aiding patients in need, dental assisting and dental hygiene students also acquired valuable hands-on experience, said Dr. Tena Phillips, a dentist and associate professor of dental assisting at ChattState.  

The experience they gained will be advantageous as they transition into their externships after spring break, she said. 

Phillips highlighted the dual benefits of volunteering at RAM: underserved communities, sometimes with severe dental issues, receive much-needed aid; meanwhile, students gain valuable hands-on experience working in mouths that require advanced treatment — an opportunity not always available in the campus dental clinic. 

"Up until spring break, our newer students are not seeing patients, aside from taking radiographs on a live person. They also do some things to each other’s teeth,” she said.  

The clinic, Phillips said, also served several formerly incarcerated patients, helping increase their chances of finding employment. 

“We had several patients who had been in prison, who automatically have a difficult time finding employment, and then their teeth are bad on top of that,” she said. “At least we can give them a good smile so that they can have a fighting chance of getting a job.” 

ChattState students gain experience in the college’s on-campus clinic giving oral exams and cancer screenings, dental cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and applying sealant. 

Between top-tier classroom education and extensive hands-on practice on campus and at RAM, ChattState dental assisting and hygiene students graduate ready to start a fulfilling and impactful career. 

“Area dentists tell me that they look forward to hiring ChattState graduates,” Phillips said. “We provide a well-rounded graduate who can become a certified dental assistant.” 

ChattState President Dr. Rebecca Ashford said the college’s participation in RAM exemplifies the college’s core tenets. 

“I am proud of the service our dental students and faculty provided to underserved individuals,” Dr. Ashford said. “I am grateful to SGA for funding their travel to Knoxville, which made this service-learning opportunity possible. I am so proud of the example they’ve set in fulfilling the College’s mission to enrich the lives of students and their families, develop a talented workforce, and partner with our community to lead boldly into the future.” 

Dr. Tena Phillips (far right) and Mark Matney (far left) stand with RAM volunteers from Chattanooga State Community College.