EPCC and Texas Tech Dental Students Expand Collaborative Care in El Paso

El Paso Community College Dental Hygiene students and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso dental students joined forces Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to provide free dental care to local patients while gaining hands-on experience.

The collaborative effort took place at the Texas Tech Oral Health Clinic and connected preventive services with restorative treatment. EPCC’s 2027 Fall Cohort of Dental Hygiene students provided cleanings and screenings, while third-year Texas Tech dental students followed up with comprehensive exams and restorative care.

The partnership is designed to give patients continuity throughout the process, connecting early preventive care with treatment needs identified during dental examinations. EPCC Dental Hygiene Instructor Theresa Pecina said some EPCC students recruited patients they had previously treated for hygiene services so they could continue receiving care at Texas Tech.

EPCC provides low-cost oral health services in the community, and the collaboration also gives students at both institutions an opportunity to apply classroom learning in a clinical setting. Texas Tech’s participation is part of its Community Practical program, in which dental students work in teams with external community partners to identify and address local needs.

For EPCC Dental Hygiene student Dylan Wilburn, the program has helped develop leadership, compassion, integrity and the ability to work under pressure. He also described the opportunity to improve patients’ lives through oral care services, hygiene instruction and teeth cleanings as an important part of his education.

Through the partnership, EPCC and TTUHSC El Paso are working to improve access to comprehensive dental care while preparing future oral health professionals. More information about EPCC’s Dental Hygiene Program is available through the EPCC Dental Hygiene Program website.