For Carina Nava, ’21 graduate of the Dental Depot Academy of Dental Assisting in Oklahoma City, it was never a matter of if she was going to become a dental assistant; it was a matter of how she was going to get there.
“I’d always been interested in the dental field and always knew I wanted to become a hygienist, but I just didn’t know how to take that first step,” Carina says.
Then one day, an impromptu Google search for dental schools in Oklahoma pulled up the Dental Depot Academy of Dental Assisting.
“I started looking around on the website and it seemed doable and affordable,” explains Carina.
In addition to a concentrated, fast-paced 12-week program that gets students into the workforce sooner with less financial burden, the Dental Depot Academy of Dental Assisting offers an affordable, all-inclusive tuition that covers the cost of supplies, uniforms, all necessary permits, select certifications, and more at just a fraction of the price of other dental assisting programs. Moreover, the program’s convenient half-day classroom instruction and flexible clinical schedules allow students to continue working even as they pursue a new career.
All of this, combined with unparalleled breadth and quality of curriculum, hands-on experience, and practical training taught by friendly, supportive staff, makes the Academy one of the most affordable and comprehensive programs in the state.
“I called the phone number listed just to get more information and actually spoke with the director,” who, Carina says, was more than forthcoming with all of the answers to her questions. “She explained the entire process up front and was super friendly and transparent.”
But what Carina really appreciated, she says, was that no one pressured her to apply. “They left the decision up to the student.”
Not seeing a path to career growth in her previous position at an orthopedic clinic, Carina decided it wouldn’t hurt to apply to the Academy, just to see what could happen. When she learned her application was accepted just a few weeks later, she quickly got over her surprise, quit her clinic job, and began working as a server on nights and weekends to start paying her way through the program.
The Dental Assisting program at the Dental Depot Academy of Dental Assisting is conducted in both academic and clinical settings. Students complete 120 hours of classroom/lab instruction during five half-days a week during the first two weeks of the program, then two days a week beginning in the third week.
Although she was already a strong student, Carina says the classroom portion of the program is set up to help students succeed not just as a dental assistant but also wherever their career path leads them. Students learn how to market their personal skills, build a resume, and develop interview skills they can take with them wherever they go next.
“Everything was explained really well, and there were plenty of opportunities to get the homework done in class,” she explains.
The Academy’s qualified instructors have more than 20 years of combined teaching experience, and are accessible in the classroom, during on-site clinical checks, and late-night or weekend questions about homework, and the program’s state-of-the-art facilities feature world-class labs and equipment dedicated solely to practical experience.
Now that Carina has joined the Dental Depot family, she can’t imagine being anywhere else.
“Dental Depot has a good work environment,” she says. “They treat their employees well, they recognize their hard work, and they always provide incentives to keep you motivated.”
One of those incentives is the support for continuing education, professional development, and upward mobility. For example, although Academy graduates leave with their certifications in Dental Assisting and Radiation Safety, if they are hired on with Dental Depot post-graduation, the company will also pay for them to complete their certifications in Sealants, Coronal Polishing, and Nitrous Oxide.
Now, after taking the opportunity to earn those expanded duties and working as a dental assistant for nearly 3 years, Carina has moved positions and is now a hygiene assistant and pursuing hygiene school, a new challenge that Dental Depot is more than happy to support and accommodate.
Another incentive is the flexibility Dental Depot offers in when and where their staff works and trains.
“If you want to do part-time or full-time, or if your regular doctor is out, you can help at other clinics, so you don’t lose hours,” explains Carina. “And after I become a hygienist, I can work at any location.”
Most importantly to Carina, however, is the confidence Dental Depot had in her when she didn’t have it herself.
“I didn’t feel as prepared as they said I was,” Carina admits, about being offered a position at her clinic. “I felt like I needed more confidence in myself, but they saw potential in me that I couldn’t yet. The trainer, doctors, and instructors were just amazing and helped me get to where I am.”
Now that she’s well into her career, Carina has some sage advice for students new to the Dental Depot Academy of Dental Assisting.
Ask questions and take notes.
“The program can be tough in that it’s fast-paced,” she admits, “but you can’t be scared. You have to just go for it and ask questions.
“You aren’t going to know the answers to everything, and even if it’s normal to everyone else, it’s new to you,” she continues. “Even if you think it’s a silly question, ask—you’re not going to hurt anyone.”
In fact, Carina says, everyone at the Academy and at her clinic—including the doctor—were more than willing to answer the questions she was “asking left and right.” She was never met with a rude or impatient response; instead, the staff, teachers, and doctors never hesitated, explaining everything to her and why.
“They [the teachers, staff, and doctors at Dental Depot] are looking for people who are willing to learn and step out of their comfort zone. They’re looking for someone who is engaged and who’s going to take the initiative.”
And as Carina quickly realized, “Asking questions is a little thing that lets them know you’re interested.”
Notes were another little thing that made a big difference for Carina’s success in the program.
“When you’re in the classroom,” Carina says, “take notes, and keep the notes with you when you go to your clinicals, so you can make sure you have what you learned in the classroom. Then, when you’re in clinicals, take notes for when you go back to the classroom.”
The notes served as a reinforcing mechanism for everything she was learning in both settings as well as a way to carry over what she was learning from one environment to the other.
“I had a lot of sticky notes.”
Carina is one of the more than 150 career-ready graduates the Dental Depot Academy of Dental Assisting has produced and successfully placed with Dental Depot offices over the last 5 years. With a 94% graduation rate and a 91.7% placement rate, both of which continue to grow, the Academy is committed to helping students excel both in the classroom and in the workforce.
The Dental Depot Academy of Dental Assisting program is offered three times per year at two locations, in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Interested applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED equivalent, but no experience is required. Contact us today for more information or visit us here to apply for our next session.
