Employee News
Dental Assisting Program Celebrates Training Milestone
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 17, 2022) – Wake Tech marked a milestone for its Dental Assisting program today with a special open house and celebration at the state-of-the-art dental assisting clinic on the Perry Health Sciences Campus.
The program has been training highly qualified dental assistants for more than 30 years, and today, members of the dental community, past and present college leadership and other invited guests toured the renovated space, which has eight treatment rooms, a designated sterilization area, a panoramic room, a reception area, faculty offices and a student locker room.
Department head Trudy Clark said she was thrilled to show off the space.
"I have been here since the Dental Assisting program began 33 years ago, and I am so proud of this clinic," Clark said. "The high-tech, hands-on learning environment will be invaluable for our students."
Lane & Associates Family Dentistry was also recognized during today's celebration. Lane & Associates, founded by Dr. Don Lane and his wife, Phyllis, has served as a clinical partner for Wake Tech Dental Assisting students since 2017. Multiple offices serve as clinic sites, providing a broad spectrum of hands-on learning opportunities for students in the clinical capstone course, which is required for graduation.
The Lanes also gifted the Dental Assisting program with generous funds to support student scholarships, emergency financial aid and equipment for the facility, which is named the Lane & Associates Family Dentistry Dental Clinic Facility.
"We are honored to name this facility in honor of the Lanes," said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. "We're so thankful for your support of this program and our students."
"This is a 'get-to,' not a 'got-to' situation," said Don Lane. "We get to support the best dental assisting program I have ever seen. The dental profession does not work without dental assistants."
Members of the Raleigh Wake County Dental Society (RWCDS) were also on hand for today's event. The society sponsors the annual dental assisting celebration luncheon and academic scholarships.
"There is a long history between our society and Wake Tech," said Dr. Nahal Miller, a board member for RWCDS. "We look forward to many more years of this successful partnership."
Wake Tech's Dental Assisting diploma program is highly competitive and accredited by the American Dental Association. It prepares students to assist dentists in the delivery of dental treatment and to function as integral members of the dental team, performing chair-side and related office and laboratory procedures. 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 are classified as a Dental Assistant II by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners. Students are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Exam in order to be classified as a Certified Dental Assistant.
Dental assistants are in high demand in the Triangle area. Wake Tech's Dental Assisting program is contacted daily by dental offices interested in hiring graduates. The next round of classes begins in August. For more information, call 919-747-0402.
If you're interested in supporting the Dental Assisting program, email Stephanie Lake with the Wake Tech Foundation at [email protected].
