The Greenville Tech Foundation, Inc. has received a grant from the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, for the Oral Health Regional Network Collaborative Project. Funds provided through the Foundation’s grant will be distributed over two years to support critical equipment upgrades for Greenville Technical College’s Dental Hygiene Program.
The grant will support the purchase of four Airflow Prophylaxis Master units, four Airflow Station Carts, and two Acteon intraoral cameras—state-of-the-art tools that will improve efficiency, patient comfort, and diagnostic accuracy within the program’s on-campus community clinic. These upgrades will allow the clinic to treat more patients, reduce chair time, and provide students with hands-on experience using the same technology found in modern dental practices.
For students training in the clinic, access to modern equipment means greater confidence, deeper hands-on learning, and the ability to deliver higher-quality care to every patient they serve.
Greenville Technical College’s Dental Hygiene Program operates a 33-chair dental hygiene clinic on the Barton Campus, serving approximately 8,000 active patients. The clinic delivers affordable oral health care to the community while providing students with real-world, supervised clinical training.
“As part of Greenville Technical College’s commitment to workforce excellence and student success, our Dental Hygiene Program has increased enrollment by nearly 17%, expanding the number of students providing care in our on-campus dental clinic. This growth created a need for additional treatment equipment to ensure a consistent, hands-on learning experience,” said Kathryn R. Freedman, DMD, Academic Program Director of Dental Hygiene at Greenville Technical College.
“We are deeply grateful for the foundation’s partnership and our shared commitment to patient-centered care and workforce development. These resources in modern dental technology enhance student learning while expanding access to comprehensive dental hygiene services for the underserved population our clinic serves.”
The Oral Health Regional Network Collaborative Project advances access to dental health education, treatment, and resources for underserved populations across South Carolina through a coordinated, regional network of providers—supporting workforce development and improving oral health outcomes throughout the region.
This project reflects the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation’s commitment to improving health outcomes and expanding access to care for communities across South Carolina.