If you’re not a dental student or faculty member, chances are you have never heard of Prophy Day, an annual event where participants get free dental exams, X-rays, cleanings and oral cancer screenings at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine.

The event, which has been held for over 20 years, will take place on Jan. 24 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. It is open to CWRU students with ID and local Clevelanders over the age of 18. The event takes place at the Dental Clinic, located at 2124 Cornell Road.

“It’s first come, first serve,” said second-year dental student Jackie Cheng, who is also the secretary for the Dental School’s Executive Student Council. Cheng recommends getting in early, as the doors close at noon.

Prophy Day is popular among locals, but many CWRU students aren’t aware that it takes place.

“We have so many people from the community that know about [Prophy Day] that the line is always coming out the door in the morning,” Cheng states, “but we see a very, very low number of undergrads.”

The student council hopes to publicize the event more in an effort to help students maintain a better schedule for dental treatment instead of waiting for every other school break to book an appointment back home. With dentists recommending cleanings every six months, waiting for schools breaks is not the best plan of action.

“Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve never seen anyone from CWRU take advantage of this opportunity,” Cheng says. “No undergrads know about the services that the Dental School provides them. I just want to extend the courtesy of inviting undergrads here. If we want to clean your teeth, let us clean your teeth.”