Clinical Practice II will be taught in the lab for the summer term. This class includes introduction to the dental specialty practices such as Orthodontics and pediatric dentistry. Dr. Ralf Zapata, Dr. Gary Hall and Dr. Larry Casey of the Niceville Family Dental Center donated equipment and paid the expenses for the installation of all items in the room. Additional equipment was donated by Dr. Jean Woo, Dr. George Dorris Dr. Douglas Pohl, Dr. Richard Apps, Dr. Peter Bayer, and Dr. James Nabors of Fort Walton Beach, Dr. Jason Seymour of Crestview, Dr. Linda DeCocker of Navarre and Dr. Doug Henery of Pensacola. OWCC officials cited local dentists as an integral part of the dental assisting program and vital to its continued success.
Some dentists teach for the program as well as offer their offices for larger clinical meetings.
Niceville Family Dental Center is currently the clinical site for the largest clinical classes taught in the program. Jim Chitwood, OWCC Foundation Executive Director, noted that Health Technology programs such as nursing and dental assisting are especially cost-intensive programs to begin because of all the equipment requirements. OWCC president, Dr. Bob Richburg, stressed that developing the new health programs is dependent upon a joint effort between public and private funding. Each of the health instructional programs has specific equipment required by the accrediting agencies and the state. Some of the equipment are big ticket items.