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The first day of classes has commenced for area schools, colleges and universities. With that comes an anticipation for the future. Many students might not have a clear vision for what type of career they have an interest in pursuing.
National Health Professions Week will be observed today through Sept. 30. This is a good time to explore job and career opportunities in the health care field.
One career available in the health care market is that of dental assistant.
Dental assistants are qualified dental professionals who are an integral facet of the dental team. The dental assisting job market is expected to grow by 18 percent through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. This is above-average job growth – a reassuring statistic in an uncertain economy.
Some of the duties a dental assistant performs include assisting the dentist chairside in all phases of dental treatment, sterilizing instruments, arranging and confirming appointments, preparing dental insurance claims, preparing laboratory procedures, taking impressions, removing arch wires and ligatures, and taking and recording vital signs, to name a few.
The specific job responsibilities will vary depending on the employer, state laws, and the the individual’s education. With additional education, dental assistants can become an expanded functions dental assistant, or EFDA. An EFDA can perform additional duties such as placing restorations (fillings) and sealants, as well as providing coronal polishing and fluoride treatments.
Luzerne County Community College offers a one-year certificate in dental assisting, a two-year associate in applied science degree in dental practice management, a one-year EFDA diploma program, and a two-year associate in applied science degree in dental hygiene.
To date, 481 students have graduated from the LCCC dental assisting program. Our graduates are well prepared to enter their profession. They receive hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art dental clinic and participate in many community service activities.
On Oct. 5, the LCCC dental assisting program will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a welcome reception and tours of the college’s Benco Dental Clinic at The Francis S. and Mary Gill Carrozza Health Sciences Center. The event also will include a continuing education course on Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and infection control.
If you are contemplating a rewarding career in a dental health care setting, look to Luzerne County Community College, one of the only accredited dental assisting programs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.