North Central Michigan College adds Dental Assistant program to its roster of Fast Track career programs

A new Dental Assistant program has been added to North Central Michigan College’s lineup of Fast Track career programs. The program lasts nine weeks and provides an all encompassing overview of every aspect of dental assisting from clinical work to clerical work.

After finishing the Fast Track course, students will be able to properly sterilize and process dental instruments, understand dental materials, gather patient health statistics, recognize dental equipment, and be able to take dental radiographs. Students will also be able to take impressions and pour dental models, will be familiar with dental terminology, and will safely transfer dental instruments to the dentist or another provider.

In an article on North Central Michigan College’s website, North Central’s dean of Corporate and Community Education Christy Lyons talked about the reasoning behind adding dental assisting to the Fast Track lineup, saying, "We met with many local dentists to learn about what their needs are. There is clearly a demand for dental assistants in the area. Many dental clinics are unable to take on new clients because they don't have enough assistants and hygienists.”

The Fast Track program will begin on April 4 and will include 64 hours of in-person training, as well as all materials and supplies. The program will cost $2,800, and grants and scholarships will be available to either offset or entirely cover the price. Classes will meet every week at Dental Clinics North in Gaylord, Michigan, and a 40-hour internship with a local dentist will close out the class experience.

"Dental Clinics North has partnered with us to use their clinic in Gaylord for the training. We chose Gaylord for this training because it is centrally located and a reasonable drive from many areas. Rico Breznau, MA, RDH, RDA, CDA, from Dental Clinics North will be our instructor for the class. She has put together a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum,” said Lyons.

The demand in the region for dental professionals is ongoing, and opportunities for career advancement in the dental setting are widely available. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has stated that employment of dental assistants is expected to increase 11% through the end of the decade, which is above average for all career paths. The median annual wage of a dental assistant is $41,180.

Dr. Susan Malone, a dentist who has been serving the Petoskey area for almost four decades, spoke about the importance of dental assistants, saying, "Dental assistants are an invaluable part of the team. Dental assistants can do a lot in the office. They make a huge difference in the way the work in the office flows, and they help reduce stress for the patient.”

The Fast Track Dental Assistant program will teach students the basic skills of dentistry needed to build a successful dental career. The class will give students all the information they need to know how to apply for the Dental Assisting Board’s National Entry Level Dental Assistant Exam (or NELDA), or the Certified Dental Assistant Exam (or CDA). Upon completion of the course and internship, students will be prepared to take the National Dental Assistants Board Exam so that they can be certified. 

This Dental Assistant program is the 12th in a series of Fast Track courses offered by North Central Michigan College. The Fast Track courses are designed to allow students to reskill or upskill quickly for in-demand career areas. More information about the Fast Track career programs at North Central Michigan College can be found at the school’s website.

More information about North Central Michigan College in general can be found on the school’s website.