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Clinic serves the community, educates students as it has done for more than 50 years

JOHNSON CITY — As the dental community observes October as National Dental Hygiene Month, East Tennessee State University’s Dental Hygiene Clinic is celebrating more than 50 years of care and education and the recent appointment of Dr. Jason S. Cade as an assistant professor and supervising dentist at the clinic.

Cade joins ETSU after working for 28 years in private practice dentistry, including 22 years in Kingsport. He earned his B.S. degree in chemistry from ETSU and his D.D.S. degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, where he also completed an advanced education in general dentistry program.

“We are excited that Dr. Cade has joined our faculty,” said Dr. Tabitha Fair, assistant professor and Dental Hygiene Program director. “We are a well-established, state-of-the-art clinic that serves our community with affordable, high-quality dental care. With his long and respected career in general dentistry, Dr. Cade will contribute to the growth and development of our program.”

Cade says he is excited to return to his alma mater to train future dental hygienists.

“Dental hygiene care is fundamental,” Cade said. “I tell my students that their patients know them better than they know their dentist. The hygienist provides the bulk of the care that the patient receives in a practice, and that makes the hygienist the face of the practice to the public. Their work is critical.”

ETSU’s Dental Hygiene Clinic is located in Lamb Hall and is open by appointment on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:15 a.m. until noon. Cleanings are free to ETSU students and people 55 or older. All others pay just $20. Before coming in for their first cleaning, new patients must schedule a screening appointment; there is no charge for this.

The clinic is located in ETSU’s Lamb Hall. Although the building is currently under construction, there is reserved parking for clinic patients at the corner of John Robert Bell Drive and Ross Drive. Patients should follow the signs to the Lamb Hall entrance facing Sam Wilson Hall. 

To make an appointment at the ETSU Dental Hygiene Clinic, call 423-439-4514 during clinic hours (M/W/F, 8:15 a.m.-noon). To learn more about the clinic, visit etsu.edu/crhs/allied-health/dhyg/patientinfo.php.