The American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado, in partnership with the DENTAC and Evans Army Community Hospital graduated five students from the Dental Assistant Training Program at Fort Carson.
Dental assistants aid the dental operator provide more efficient dental treatment by preparing the patient, sterilizing instruments during the procedure, holding a suction device and more. This program provides each student with quality assistant training through classroom study and hands on learning (chair-side) within a dental clinic. It is an intense program in which the duty hours are from 7:00am-4:30pm, M-F for six months (approximately 1,000 hours). In addition to learning how to be a dental assistant, the students are trained and certified by the Red Cross in First Aid/CPR and AED.
The Dental Assistant Training Program at Fort Carson has been in place for nearly 30 years and the graduates have worked across the globe at civilian and military installations. Nada Rocha is the coordinator for the program, “We get so many good candidates and this clinic really makes the program great.” Nada has been the coordinator for 10 years but will soon be retiring. She was presented with a certificate of thanks and flowers by
The graduation ceremony was attended by the staff from the two dental clinics on Fort Carson, as well as family members and the Red Cross Service to Armed Forces team at Fort Carson.
To start the dental assistant training program, there is an application process that includes filling out the complete application package, writing a one-page summary of why you should be selected for the program and completing an interview. Application dates will be posted in all media on Ft. Carson.