Issue Date: 10/26/09
Bright future: Dental program struggles to meet high demand
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"Most people say, 'Oh, how are you so stressed out in school and stuff? You're just sucking saliva.' But it's so much more than that…It's really hard," dental assisting student Megan Pralle said.
Despite the difficulty involved, the one-year program has more students than it can handle.
This semester marks the third year in a row there has been a waiting list.
The program can only hold 28 students, and for the last few semesters 20 to 25 of those students have rolled over from the previous year's waiting list.
Health programs specialist Jan Burton said she feels that students are flocking to the program because of the recession.
Burton said many people are returning to school, and dental assisting is in high demand now in San Diego County. According to dentalassistant.net, a dental assistant in California can expect to earn almost $13 an hour.
Students who are waiting to enter the program are required to take DA 50, which is an introductory dental assisting class, but in addition they are also encouraged to take English 50, 100 or ESL 103.
Burton said that taking these courses will give students time to think about whether they really belong in the dental assisting program.
Many students might find it difficult to keep up with other commitments while enrolled in the program. Burton strongly suggests that students refrain from having a job.
"It's really hard to keep a job…I work a full-time job and I'm here full time and so it's just really hard getting the time into studying and still do good in the class," said Gloria Bayarito who also works as a medical receptionist at Graybill Medical Center.
Dental assisting student Melissa Rickley agreed. "I would just say don't have a job."
Palomar's dental assisting program has the distinction of being the only one in North County to be accredited by the American Dental Association.
In recent years the program has continually produced impressive results.
The 2008 class passed the state exam boards with a 95.5 success rate, which, according to Burton, is due to the rigorous training.
The waiting list that helps weed out some of the students who may not be entirely serious about the program, Burton added.
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