UK College of Dentistry’s Dental Assisting Program Will Begin in September
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 22, 2016) – According to the U.S. Department of Labor, between the years 2014 and 2024 the demand for dental assistants is expected to grow 18 percent. Beginning in September, the UK College of Dentistry (UKCD) will offer a six-month Dental Assistant Program to help interested individuals gain valuable experience and training for this vital role on the dental team.
Program Director Dr. Kenneth Nusbacher described what those who complete the program can expect in their professional lives, “The day to day work for dental assistants will vary between dental offices. It may involve various patient care tasks, office duties, or even lab functions. By completing our program, a person gains real experience in a variety of areas, helping them be better prepared for their first day at a dental office,” Nusbacher went on to say, “I’m very proud of the unique balance our program offers in regard to overall program length, cost and the number of hours students will spend learning by working in our dental clinics.”
Program participants will benefit from hands-on experience as approximately 70 percent of students’ time will be spent in the dental clinic assisting with procedures, working side by side UKCD dental students, clinical faculty and staff. While serving a large patient pool with a variety of needs across multiple areas of dentistry students will also get exposure to a variety of dental specialty areas. Additionally, they will gain familiarity with auxiliary dental services such as radiology, sterilization and dental labs. Program extras include certification in basic life support such as CPR, coronal polishing and radiation safety.
The UKCD Dental Assisting Program consists of lecture courses, pre-clinical courses and clinical experiences in multiple UKCD clinics. Students will train with experienced UKCD professors and staff who also train current UKCD dental students.
A minimum of high school diploma or GED is required for acceptance to the program. The next start dates for the program are Sept. 15, 2016 and Feb. 15, 2017. To learn more or apply to the program, visit our website here.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Olivia McCoy, olivia.mccoy1@uky.edu, (859) 257-1076