That's 700 more job openings that Del Mar can help fill. The College's program is one of only five accredited programs in the state. Students who complete their studies at Del Mar and pass the National Certification Examination, administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, become certified for employment anywhere in the United States. Passing the exam also means students earn certification in Texas to operate dental radiology equipment. As one of Del Mar's first dental assisting graduates, Staberg says that the program has evolved considerably over the last 30 years.
Students have access to computers and the most sophisticated technology used in the field today.
While students study dental assisting at Del Mar, they also take their knowledge on the road as part of the program's community service project. For over 25 years each fall, students have taught over 2,000 area elementary school children about oral health, including how nutrition and oral hygiene affect their teeth. Another Del Mar dental assisting graduate also joined the teaching team in 1997. Many of the dental assisting students are single parents with low incomes. I get the biggest thrill seeing our students learn and the beauty they create with their very own hands for someone else.