STCC’s Dental Assistant program returning in January 2022
The student at right performs suction on a patient, one of the responsibilities of a dental assistant. Under the guidance of licensed dentists and faculty, STCC students work with the public in the on-campus dental hygiene clinic.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College is bringing back a newly redesigned one-year dental assistant program to help fill a strong industry demand for trained professionals to enter the workforce.
The program is open to anyone with a high school diploma or an equivalency such as a GED or HiSET and will accept up to 24 students for classes that start Jan. 24.
Excited about the relaunch, STCC faculty and dentists in the region say the program will help guide students into a rewarding career.
”There hasn’t been a better time to join the dental profession,” said Martin Wohl, DDS, chair of the Valley District Dental Society. “Springfield Technical Community College has been the invaluable hub for training dental hygienists and dental assistants for decades in Western Massachusetts.”
Wohl added, “Now, with the newly improved and expanded dental assisting program, dental assisting students will have an excellent opportunity to enter a skilled, safe, well paid and rewarding career in improving the lives of our community members.”
Dental Assistant faculty Samantha Kelley, left, and Joelle Connor.
Scores of dental practices are seeking dental assistants, and graduates of the program at STCC are all but guaranteed rewarding and lucrative opportunities in local dental offices and the dental profession, said Wohl, who has hired graduates from STCC.
“Graduates of STCC have been among the most revered members of the dental team in my practice.
I encourage all those interested in helping to provide much needed health care to consider enrolling in the excellent dental assisting program at STCC,” he said.
Dental assistants prepare patients for procedures, from simple fillings to oral surgery. They assist the dentist with passing of instruments and performing suction, among other crucial tasks.
“All the dentists in this area are very excited for this to be up and running again,” said STCC assistant professor Joelle Connor, chair of the Dental Assistant program. “Dental assistants really are what makes the dental practice go round and round.”
Now, with the newly improved and expanded dental assisting program, dental assisting students will have an excellent opportunity to enter a skilled, safe, well paid and rewarding career in improving the lives of our community members.Martin Wohl, DDS Chair of the Valley District Dental Society
Dental assistants prepare patients for procedures, from simple fillings to oral surgery. They assist the dentist with passing of instruments and performing suction, among other crucial tasks.
“All the dentists in this area are very excited for this to be up and running again,” said STCC assistant professor Joelle Connor, chair of the Dental Assistant program. “Dental assistants really are what makes the dental practice go round and round.”
Connor and assistant professor Samantha Kelley will teach students in the program, which is ideal for someone who wants to enter the field as a dental assistant or who wants to continue studies to earn a degree as a dental hygienist or dentist.
“It’s a good stepping stone for somebody who works in the dental field,” Connor said. “If it’s a stopping point, it’s a wonderful profession. It’s very flexible. The pay is good and there are no odd hours.”
The program has not been offered for a couple of years at STCC and has been redesigned for its relaunch. Students who complete the dental assistant program will be eligible for priority consideration into the Dental Hygiene program because they will have completed core coursework.
“We have modified the curriculum,” Connor said. “We are teaching with state-of-the-art technology. We are bringing up the level of rigor as well to make it more equitable.”
Students must start the one-year program in January and will have to take classes during the summer. They must complete 300 hours of an externship with a clinical affiliate such as a general dentist, a specialty office or one of STCC’s community health partners.
The program, which is in person and not online, is designed for afternoon and evening, with classes starting at or after 2:30 p.m. Connor said the time frame allows for more flexibility for students who may be working or who have family responsibilities.
Connor said anyone who completes the program will be in high demand to start working in the industry.
“The job market is out of this world,” she said. “With this program being closed for about 2 years, there have been no recent graduates in this immediate area. The Pioneer Valley is so low on dental assistants that we get phone calls all the time asking, ‘Do you have a student with dental assistance experience and can you send them to us?’”
For more information and to apply for the program, visit stcc.edu/explore/programs/dast.crt/. For questions, contact admissions at admissions@stcc.edu or call (413) 755-3333.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequalled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu