Career Tips & Advice

Traits of a Good Dental Assistant Program

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated June 13, 2016. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
dental assistant

You say you've been thinking about a career as a Dental Assistant, and you've been searching for the right Dental Assistant training program for you. A program that will meet all your needs and give you the best education and training so that you can become successful in a long-term, rewarding career.

Do you know what to look for?

Of course, we at Concorde believe we have everything you need and then some. The coursework in our Dental Assistant training program emphasizes the clinical and administrative aspects of serving in a dental office setting. It immerses you in the practical aspects of providing dental patient care in a real-world, hands-on environment.

Most important, we believe that Concorde has a Dental Assistant program which thoroughly prepares its students to, following graduation, take the licensing exam to qualify for employment and thrive in the field.

But don't just take our word for it. Read what some of our faculty and program directors, who are in the classrooms and labs every day with our hard-working students, say works best in ensuring their graduates' success.

The basics of learning to be a Dental Assistant

Most anyone in any program agrees - the success of any program starts and ends with doing the simple things correctly.

"It really starts in the classroom," said Debbie Fritcher, Aurora campus Dental Assisting Program Director. "We have instructors and staff who are committed to the success of our students, and this shows up in the classroom through lively lectures where instructors really bring life to the program. We utilize real-life experiences in our teaching, and we go into depth as to why a procedure is done the way it is."

Fritcher believes that coming to school should be enjoyable for the students as well as informative.

"Our program is structured so the students are held accountable to the policies and procedures," she said, "so that when it is time for them to begin externship, they have an understanding what it means to be employed as a Dental Assistant."

9 aspects of a strong Dental Assistant program

Dale Rogers, Tampa campus Dental Assistant Program Director, lists nine basic aspects any good DA program should have.

  • Teamwork - Students and faculty must have the same objectives and goals
  • Service before self - Go above and beyond to reach each student's needs
  • Understanding - Compassion and empathy or, more to the point, love of people and dentistry
  • Integrity - Doing the right thing when nobody is watching
  • End result - Establish obtainable goals
  • Empowerment - Empower your staff to complete the job
  • Revamp - Adapt to the needs of students
  • Respect - Learn to agree to disagree as professionals
  • Maintain Concorde core values at all times

Reaching beyond the classroom

What makes Concorde's Dental Assistant program stand out from all the rest, Fritcher said, is that the teacher's involvement with the student goes beyond the classroom.

"We speak career to our students," she said. "Our DA team has all graduated from a school like Concorde, so we can relate to and understand the struggles that students face with managing their families, jobs and free time. We are cheerleaders as well as mentors and coaches for our students, and the students continue to respond well to that approach."

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

Interested in learning more about our Dental Assistant program? We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.