CLC Hosts ‘Floss Cutting’ for New Dental Facility in Brainerd

Central Lakes College students, leadership, and representatives gathered last Wednesday for a “floss-cutting” ceremony at the Dental Programs’ brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in Brainerd.

The Dental Hygiene program itself is new at Central Lakes College. Officials hope it will help provide the full scope of preventive periodontal care for many patients within the area at a lower cost, increasing access to care for the general public at CLC’s on-campus dental clinic.

“Dental hygiene and dental assisting, they’re both very high-demand careers right now,” said CLC Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting Director Katie Thalberg. “There’s a shortage in the state, a shortage in our area. We’re very excited to have this program to support the community, to invest in our students. They get a two-year degree and they can go out and earn a great wage helping people.”

CLC’s dental clinic expects to begin accepting patients in February.