Before I chose DATC I was so unsure of where my life was going. I was working long, grueling hours at a horse barn where the summers were hot, the winters were long, and the weekends and time off were things I only dreamt about.  When I finally decided I wanted to pursue a career in dental assisting I applied to two different programs only for my hopes to be crushed not once, but twice. I’m a fighter though. I fight for the things I want most in life and I knew that dental assisting was what I wanted to  do. I had heard of DATC through my husband who knew Kristen Lowe and I thought that a 12 week class was just too good to be true. After trying twice before, I was giving my last bit of hope into a 12 week course that I was unsure about but I knew that no matter what it took, I was getting in to that 12 week course and I was going to become a dental assistant. When I got my official letter in the mail welcoming me to the class I was ecstatic! It was such a breath of fresh air. I had gotten in!

I would not be where I am today in my career, if not for Dental Assistant Training Center of Graham, NC. This program had a tremendous impact on my life. The skills and training from this program gave me the knowledge to highly succeed in dental assisting. I enjoy going to work everyday, and would encourage anyone to make this career step!

Haber asistido a DATC y entrar en la rama de medicina fue la mejor opción que pude ver. Me abrió muchas puertas y oportunidades de trabajo. Estoy muy satisfecho en ver asistido a este programa. Ademas es una gran oportunidad para todos aquellos que buscan una carrera corta y al mismo tiempo tener un trabajo ya que DATC ofrece las clase por los sábados.

Dental Assistant te ofrece todas las herramientas y conocimientos necesarios. Ademas es un programa muy complejo los instructores con todo el conocimiento necesario.

Agradesco a todo el equipo de DATC y la Dr Karen Barwick.

Muchas Gracias

I graduated DATC in 2017, I always knew I wanted to be a part of the healthcare field & I’m thankful I chose a strong career like dental assisting. While attending DATC I raised an infant & worked two jobs and managed to get highest GPA & most clinical hours. I graduated with a job that I started immediately after school in Chapel Hill, today i walk into my office with knowledge that i learned at DATC & a open mind to always continue my education. I also have had the opportunity to advance my skills by working not only as an assistant but as front office assistant, as needed. I’m beyond thankful I chose to go through DATC as now I get to spend time with my family and have a successful career.

Week 1 comments:
“Time flies when you’re having fun. Class has exceeded my expectations!”
“Would have liked more time in Clinic”

Week 2 comments:
“Today I learned a lot about cleaning and sterilizing. They were very well explained.”
“I really enjoy getting the PowerPoint presentations early so I know what we will study.”
“Labs help to remember stuff.”

Week 3 comments:
Tell us ONE THING that you learned or that was reinforced while on your clinical rotation this week or during your clinic session today.
I learned how to more efficiently use the air/water syringe and HVE.”
“I really enjoyed learning how to use the saliva ejector and moisture control.”
“How to clean mouths and do a good job with it.”
“How to clean operatories and use the HVE.”
“Good posture and making sure the patient is comfortable were reinforced today. Best day so far. Powerpoint was much better today since it was not read word for word.”
“Use a HVE to help suction big particles out of the mouth then move to saliva ejector for smaller particles.”
“Make sure to hold and pass your instruments correctly to your dentist.”
“I feel like the material we read regarding moisture control was made clear while being in the clinic today.”
“How to clean a room and put barriers on quickly”
“I was reminded on how to spray-wipe-spray”
“ I learned how a maxillary right third molar is extracted. I also learned in clinicals that not everything always goes as planned in a dental office”

Week 4 comments:
Please tell us your best and worst rotation experience so far.
“The best rotation was at an orthodontic office. It was so much different than the other offices I’ve been to. My worst experience was at another orthodontic office where they were trying to put braces on a 7-year-old. “
Very interesting in opening the office, I didn’t realize the compressor was so loud”
“I only have a good experience to share: At the pediatric dentist office. I love kids and the atmosphere”
The best was at a general dentist office with hands on learning. The worst was at last week’s rotation when I just stood back and watched.”
“Both rotations I have been to have been great. It gave me a chance to see all offices are different, not wrong, just different”
“Most valuable experience is using instruments on live patients. Encouraging to see I really can do it!”
“I don’t have a bad experience so far but the best is when I got to sit chairside”
“I’ve only done one rotation. The first patient was we saw was eating oreos in the reception area.”
“The clinical rotation where I saw an extraction”

Weeks 5 & 6 comments:
“I felt like the study questions to prepare us for the per-test weren’t really relevant to the pre-test. However, the study tips were VERY helpful in preparing for the final (Radiology) exam. “
“My instructors today were great and very helpful”
“I think today helped me get a greater feel for x-rays. The instructors were very helpful to ask any questions to”
“I enjoyed doing/learning more about x-rays”
“X-rays are fun!”
“The instructors were very helpful when taking x-rays”
“Today was fun and very learningful. We had some amazing helpers today”
“At the end of the day, we ran slightly short of time, however, I feel confident in the process of exposing and developing radiographs. The information was clear and concise”
“Hands on experience is the best!!! I really learned a lot , knowing exactly where to place a PIUD in order to take a GREAT X-RAY; learning how to angle… made the difference placing the film”

Week 7 Comments:
Best and worst clinical rotation experience
“Best: Getting to change wires and O’s in an ortho office”
“Worst: Being in any office on a “Slow day””
“My best was being at the pediatric office. I don’t have any bad experiences.”
“Shadowing at an Oral Surgery office was a blast! Strengthened my interest in oral surgery. Procedures are gruesome yet fascinating. Was able to see a lot of mandibular and maxillary anatomy during extraction!”
“My best rotation was at a pediatric office where they extracted 4 teeth on a 10-year-old. My worst was at a general dental office where the dentist didn’t wear a mask”
“Pouring models on a live patient was really fun and it made me learn more that way! Our instructors were awesome”
“Some material presented was unclear during the presentation. A lot of information from the PowerPoint was not discussed. My best clinical experience was with a periodontist because that area of specialty was completely new to me,
My worst experience was at a general dental office. The dental assistant I shadowed was VERY unprofessional. Also, a dental assistant I did not work with filled out my evaluation and I feel under evaluated me”
“I enjoyed learning about temp \crowns, how they were made was very interesting to see”
“I really enjoyed trimming the temporary crow, Shelly was awesome and very friendly. I wish models had gums though. Would have been wonderful”

Best DATC: Learning how to take x-rays and being comfortable enough to do them on a patient during rotations.

“Today was fun making crowns but I wish we had more time in the back rather than such long lectures”