Students find joy and a clear future in Central Penn’s dental program
By Jules A. Quare
Knightly News Reporter
Dental assistants.
I know that when you hear that term you think: That’s an easy job; it must be someone standing next to the dentist, assisting—right?
I’m guilty of that, but after talking with and hanging out awhile with dental students participating in the program Central Penn offers, I quickly learned there is much more to the job than standing next to a dentist.
To begin, dental assistants complete the sterilization process of instruments used, they monitor infection control, they assist with scheduling, they have patient interaction and they may need to be a comfort to someone who is nervous about having dental work done.
Central Penn offers a program for people who want to pursue a future in dental work.
Ann Hoffman, director of the dental program and a strong mentor for her students, started out in dental assisting and then moved up the ladder to become a hygienist, an influence her family, who had experience in the dental field. She said she wanted to be part of the healthcare system. She explained how being in the dental field provides a good work-life balance, giving her something to enjoy during the day and time with her loved ones after work is done.
She teaches and has labs with her students in the afternoon. These sessions consist of meeting with students at a dental office after hours and practicing in a clinical setting. Once students reach their third term, they can interact with patients during the lab time, giving the students the feeling of what it will be like to work on their own after graduation. The position comes with a high demand, making it almost a guarantee of job acceptance after graduation.
Hoffman’s students appreciate the program they found. Emilyn Schwartz, in her first term, has always had an interest in the dental field. She decided that Central Penn was a good option because she will be in the field in nine months. Inside the classroom, Schwartz was surprised to learn how much came with the job and the depth of knowledge involved. She will, for example, be learning how to complete oral x-rays, and more.
Isa Cortez-Pabon is learning to her full potential under Hoffman’s guidance and Central Penn’s program. She said her favorite part of the training is getting the “real life” experience during lab days. Cortez-Pabon lives close to Central Penn, so she knew Central Penn was affordable. She said she appreciates the personability of her small class.
Unfortunately, Alexis Root had a rough start to training in her chosen career. Root attended HACC to start in dental hygiene, but switched to Central Penn’s dental-assisting program, which requires only nine months to complete. Root is halfway to starting her career and said the experiences she has gained at CPC will help her expand her knowledge so she can jump back on the path to being a hygienist.
“The program is (very) personable,” Root said.
Cama Enders’ take on dental assisting is a little different from the rest. Enders loves art and wanted a future that included it.
“I am very artsy,” Ender explained. “I compare dental assisting to art in more of a practical way.”
Enders said she will be able to make the most of this program and future career because she can view the work in a creative way. She was a little taken aback by the amount of information she had to learn for the position but would not change it for anything. Enders is satisfied with the program, and she is building a wonderful baseline of knowledge so that if she wants to expand her skill set and move up the clinical ladder, she will be able to do so with ease.
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Edited by media-club co-adviser and Knightly News blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
