Laurel Ridge Brings Dental Assisting Program to Fauquier Campus

Laurel Ridge Community College has something to smile about—its fast-track Dental Assisting program is now being offered at the Fauquier Campus. The new program, which started its first group of students in February, is designed to help students train quickly for jobs in the dental field.

The program, offered through Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions, helps students get the skills they need in just a few months. Students will finish their training by mid-June.

Helping Hands in Dentistry

Dental assistants play a key role in helping dentists care for patients. They work closely with dentists during exams and procedures and learn what’s known as “four-handed dentistry.”

“The dentist is two hands, and the assistant is the other two,” explained Anna Teter, program manager and director of operations for Workforce Solutions. “Dental assistants help with many parts of a procedure, and depending on the dentist, they may also polish teeth, take impressions, or even finish a filling after the dentist prepares the tooth.”

Students also learn to take X-rays, prepare exam rooms, clean tools, and even help with front desk tasks like scheduling and billing.

Real Experience in a Real Clinic

As part of their training, students are gaining real-world experience at the Fauquier Free Clinic in Warrenton. The clinic has partnered with the college to offer students a space to practice their skills in a real dental setting.

“The program was expanded to meet the growing need for trained dental assistants in our area,” said Allison Ortner, healthcare program manager for Workforce Solutions. “Thanks to the Fauquier Free Clinic for providing space for our students to learn hands-on.”

Clinic Director Rob Marino said the clinic is glad to help. “The students have been great to work with,” he said. “It’s a great clinical job and a great way for someone to get into healthcare.”

Support from the Community

Bringing the program to the Fauquier Campus took strong community support. The Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation helped raise more than $60,000 to buy equipment like dental manikins, trays, and instruments. The foundation also provided over $12,000 in scholarships to help students pay for tuition.

The Warrenton-based PATH Foundation was one of the donors.

“Dental assisting continues to be an important job in Virginia,” said Margy Eastham Thomas, program officer at PATH Foundation. “We’re proud to help students afford this great opportunity.”

A Career with Opportunity

Students who finish the program earn a certificate of completion, a CPR certification, and a dental radiation certificate. After gaining work experience, they can also take the national certification exam for dental assistants.

According to Career Coach powered by Lightcast, the average dental assistant in this region earns more than $46,000 per year, with experienced workers earning over $61,000. There are more than 170 job openings expected each year in the region.

For more information about the program, visit laurelridge.edu/dental.