FMC Elementary School third-grader Prince Slavean isn’t sure what to expect when he’s let out of class and escorted to a recreational vehicle parked beside the campus.

All the 9-year-old knows is that it has something to do with his teeth.

Once inside, Prince learns he is to get a free dental checkup and cleaning.

He flashes a wide, toothy smile.

Prince is among more than 100 students at FMC and R.A. Hall Elementary Schools to receive the free checkup and cleaning aboard the RV this school year.

The mobile dental hygiene office — known officially as the Coastal Bend Health Education Center — is funded with a grant from Texas A&M University and is operated by Coastal Bend College’s dental hygiene department.

“The program has been very, very successful so far,” said Beeville dentist Dr. Michael Huckman, who oversees CBC’s dental hygiene department. “Every student has an opportunity to get a free checkup and cleaning, but the program was developed to help children from low-income families who may not otherwise ever visit a dentist.”

Students spend about 15 to 20 minutes learning about dental hygiene and its importance from CBC students enrolled in the college’s dental hygiene program.

“By offering these no-cost dental exams, X-rays and cleaning, we save the students and their parents a lot of money” Huckman said. “A lot of people do not visit dentists or get regular dental exams and teeth cleaning because they cannot afford it. That’s why this program is so important.”

The mobile education center is parked at the campuses and CBC dental hygiene staff visits the school twice a week from 8 a.m. to about 3 p.m.

After learning about the importance of keeping their teeth and gums healthy, the students’ have X-rays taken of their teeth. The dental hygiene students also inspect each student’s teeth and gum for problem areas — such as cavities or gum disease.

Any problem areas are noted on a form that is sent home with students.

“We try to make sure it’s understandable, not written in medical terminology, so that parents can understand what we’ve found and why their child needs to visit a dentist,” said Angenelle Pickett, who helps teach the dental hygiene class at Coastal Bend College.

Before heading back to class, the students get their teeth cleaned.

“Some of the kids are a little scared at first but once we’re done they’re pretty happy because their teeth feel so clean,” said Jennifer Korczynski, another CBC teacher who supervises the college’s dental hygiene students assigned to the mobile dental office.

Some students get their teeth sealed to help reduce cavities.

FMC Elementary third-grader Lizette Salazar, 8, runs her tongue over her teeth after her cleaning is completed.

“My teeth feel slippery,” she said, beaming a smile.

The CBC dental hygiene students take turns staffing the mobile dental van.

Sabrina Langhorst, a CBC dental hygiene student who helped clean Lizette’s teeth, said she looks forward to her turn in the RV.

“We usually practice in the classroom at CBC, in the dental hygiene lab, so this is a great opportunity for us to get out of class and get some real world experience.”

McCall Staheli, another dental hygiene student at CBC, says she looks forward to working with the grade school students.

“We usually don’t get to deal with children that much,” she said. “Most of the time we deal with adults. We don’t get near as many children to visit our dental hygiene class at CBC as we see at the schools.”

Kellie Turley, another CBC student, said the younger students are a delight to work with but require a tad more finesse.

“It’s a little more work because we have to explain more, and you have to have more pop in your step when you deal with children, but it’s also a lot of fun,” she said. “The kids really seem to enjoy the whole experience.”