The deadline to enroll in the upcoming Dental Assisting program is Monday, July 15. 

 

Space is limited so potential students are encouraged to apply quickly. The diploma-level class is designed to finish in 12 months. Graduates will be prepared to take the state dental assisting licensure examination, which opens the door to a great paying and rewarding job. 

 

Financial aid is available. Residents of Polk and Rutherford counties may be able to attend tuition-free through the Powers Promise. 

 

The new Dental Assisting program is made possible thanks to a partnership with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, which is opening a dental clinic on the site of the old hospice facility on the campus of St. Luke’s Hospital. 

 

“There is a shortage of dental and primary healthcare providers across Western North Carolina,” said Dr. Jeff Heck, chief executive officer of MAHEC. “Too many families are using hospital emergency departments for their dental care, which is costly and does not improve oral health outcomes. We want to make dental and primary healthcare more accessible across our region. This new collaborative partnership will help us do that.” 

 

The Dental Assisting curriculum prepares individuals to assist the dentist in the delivery of dental treatment and to function as integral members of the dental team while performing chairside and related office and laboratory procedures. Course work includes instruction in general studies, biomedical sciences, dental sciences, clinical sciences, and clinical practice. 

 

A combination of lecture, laboratory, and clinical experiences provide students with knowledge in infection/hazard control, radiography, dental materials, preventive dentistry, and clinical procedures. Graduates may be eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination to become Certified Dental Assistants. As a Dental Assistant II, defined by the Dental Laws of North Carolina, graduates work in dental offices and other related areas. 

 

For more information, contact Brenda McFarland at 828-395-1668 or bmcfarland@isothermal.edu. 

 

Submitted by Mike Gavin