Making history: Worland's first dental hygienist celebrates at 50-year reunion

WORLAND - Worland's first dental hygienist Margaret Schmeltzer Lungren, and seven of her classmates from Sheridan College were recognized at last weekend's graduation ceremonies for the 50th anniversary of their graduation.

Margaret Lungren was one of 24 students who were part of the first class of dental hygienists at Sheridan College. She said the dental hygiene program is a strong and vibrant program at the college with 30 students graduating over the weekend, 29 ladies and one young man.

THE REUNION

Seven members of the Class of 1971 gathered on campus for a reunion and a tour of the campus, along with a few members from the Class of 1972. They then went to the Wagon Box Inn in Story, a place they frequented when in school, and went on a tour of campus. The following day they attended graduation and the Class of 1971 was recognized during the ceremony.

She said after 50 years, "You walk into the room and pick up where you left off, very good friends, it was a like a sisterhood."

THE BEGINNING

Lungren got her start in dentistry when she got a job after school and in the summers at Dr. Wray's office in Worland while in high school.

"The first time I saw a tooth extracted I went out like a light, cold as a cucumber. I fainted, hit my head on the sink, they had to drag me out of the room. That was my beginning," she said. "What a job opportunity and things I got to learn."

"I didn't really know what I wanted to do after high school but this program became available and they accepted 24 girls," Lungren said.

Twelve of the 24 graduated in two years, completing the national exams and state boards. Some of the other 12 dropped out of the program, while the others opted to complete the program in three years.

Of the 12 that completed the program in two years, only four attended right out of high school with the others having some college credits. Now, she said the program has two years of pre-requisite classes and 20 of the current graduates received bachelor degrees.

Lungren said "It's a pretty rigorous course to do in two years." She added that some of the coursework was completed at the VA in Sheridan.

In 1969 when Lungren applied to the program, they had to complete an aptitude test to make sure they were the right fit to be a dental hygienist. The entrance in the program today includes an application, and interview process.

She said they receive on average 80 applicants for the program at Sheridan College and accept 24 with six alternates.

"If you're not a people person and don't have the personality to communicate with someone on the dental level that you have to, don't get into the field. So much of dental hygiene is patient education. It's not just getting your teeth cleaned it's telling you how to be preventive and proactive about your dental health and how to take care of yourself, and wanting to take care of yourself. If you can't portray that and encourage them to take care of their teeth you may be in the wrong field."

She noted the director of the program was fastidious and tripped up students with spelling tests including the word license and hygiene.

Students also had to clean stainless steel sinks and then shine the sinks with cotton balls with mineral oil. They also were taught to tie shoes to make sure the bow was perfect.

Many local dentists in the Sheridan area mentored the students back then as well.

Students had to purchase all their instruments and coursework included head and neck anatomy.

Along with passing the national exam and state board exams, she earned her Associate of Science degree.

Lungren noted that two Worland students are in the program now - Olivia Scheuerman and Jaycee Page.

30-YEAR CAREER

Upon graduation she went to Casper to work for three years, two as a bachelorette before marrying her high school sweetheart, Greg Lungren.

She worked for $5 an hour, which she said as a woman back then was "big, big money."

The moved to Worland and Lungren, with dental hygiene license No. 79 in the state, was the first dental hygienist in Worland.

She said she knew the woman who had No. 1 license, Edna Stowe Thomas of Casper, the wife of a dentist.

Lungren worked with several dentists in Worland including many years for Dr. Jim Gillman and at Nelson & Page.

"It's such a wonderful career," Lungren said. She said as a dental hygienist it was easy to work part-time or full-time which was great when raising her children.

CHANGES

Lungren went through many changes in her career, starting with not wearing masks and gloves and sterilizing tools with a chemical sterilization process. "I went from that to digital work, masks and gloves and complete sterilization. They don't even teach students how to take any x-rays but digital x-rays now."

The uniforms were white caps and white uniforms including white hose and shoes. "And now, it's whatever you want, times change but we're all professional."

She said the first-year students received their cap with a band signifying the college you attended and the second year you received a pin.

Other changes are just advancement in dentistry with more orthodontics, people who bleach their teeth. There are also many more specialties in the field.

"I enjoyed my career," Lungren said. She retired in 2001 with some substitute work following her retirement. "It's such a wonderful work environment and there is such a camaraderie."

Does she give advice to the dental hygienist who works on her teeth now that she is retired? She said, no, but added, "I think I intimidate them more than they do me."

She said she most enjoyed the relationships she developed with her patients, noting just this past week she met a young lady who remembered Lungren as the hygienist who used to clean her teeth.

She said she admired parents who brought their children to the dentist every year or twice a year.

As for advice to former patients and for all residents she offers one piece of education, "Next to wearing a seat belt, flossing your teeth is the best thing you can do for your health." She said the food particles in between teeth can become a harboring agent for bacteria. "You have to floss your teeth. If you've got them floss them."