Without proper dental insurance, visits to the dentist can easily top $200. Which may be one reason why Chippewa Valley Technical College's Dental Clinic has seen nearly a 50 percent increase in patients in 2008 from the year before.

CVTC's dental hygiene clinic is open to the public, specifically serving those most in need in the community, and since opening in 2004, it’s seen nearly 25,000 patients. But in the last year, it’s seen it’s number of patients jump from around 4900 patients in 2007 to nearly 7400 patients last year -- which equals a 48.7 percent jump.

When people lose their jobs, benefits packages go with. And as Pam Entorf, the Program Director of CVTC's dental hygiene program says, these losses are bringing in more patients. She says, “It's hard ya know, they've come in and said, ya know this feels like my last ditch effort, I don’t want to let my teeth go. I had no place else to turn, I don’t have any money.”

Entorf says the clinic is open to anyone on Badger Care, medical assistance or to low income families.

She says dental hygiene students do most of the work, which means visits can often last much longer than the hour you'd spend at a private practice dentist, “But they're investing their time in a procedure that could be upwards of $200 -- so it’s really a clinic for people who have more time than they do money.”

But sisters Tammy and Ashley Fransway-Schneider of Elk Mound say they like coming to CVTC's dental clinic. Tammy says, “They are all nicer than the original doctors and they pay extra close attention like if your teeth are sensitive or not.” And Ashley says she’s learned a lot at the clinic, “The last couple of times I’ve been here, they've taught me quite a bit like where to brush and how many times, and where to floss and how often.”

But with 4,000 people sitting on the waiting list, Entorf says many people in the area still need help.

Entorf says a regular teeth cleaning at the clinic costs most people around $25. She says they like to teach people about dental hygiene as well.

There are income guidelines, so call ahead to see if you qualify.