The Early Years in the Dental Assisting Program

The Early Years in the Dental Assisting Program
by Jane C. Frost Adams

In 1960 Montgomery College was the first college on the east coast to implement a college-level curriculum to educate and train dental assistants. This curriculum included basic college courses and technical dental assisting courses as well as clinical practice at Georgetown Dental School. A dentist from Georgetown University was the coordinator with Montgomery College. He also taught dental anatomy and x-ray courses. Other dentists from the Georgetown faculty taught the dental specialties as part-time instructors.

This greatly improved program was the result of the plan developed by the American Dental Association and the Public Health Service to improve dentistry for the patient, the dentist, and the assistant. With actual training in chairside assisting, hitherto unknown, the assistant could save the dentist much time and effort. Previously the dentist had trained his assistant only in the methods he alone used in his office, a very inefficient and expensive use of his professional time.

By successfully completing this program, the dental assistant would become professionally qualified with an Associate in Arts degree (A.A.); and by successfully completing the National Examination of the American Dental Assistants Association would become a Certified Dental Assistant (C.D.A.).

I joined the faculty in the summer of 1960 and continued to develop the program. Finding a well-trained instructor, supervising the completion of the dental suite, and interviewing potential students kept me busy.

By September the first class of students began their pioneering experience. Numerous questions challenged us. Would this program meet college standards! After my twenty-five years of successful training, it is difficult for me to explain that at that time we were REALLY pioneering.

Events that stand out in my memory include our capping ceremony just prior to the students’ clinical practice in their fourth semester and how well they entered into the college life generally. Some were cheerleaders or helped prepare floats for parades. One class gave a party for handicapped children in a nearby institution. We were pleased whenever one of our graduates was elected to the national honor society Phi Theta Kappa.

After a few years the College was able to offer the same courses to practicing assistants unable to attend the day courses. In 1967 I was asked to organize the Dental Laboratory Technology Program at the College. By 1969 this program was also in operation. Our name was then changed to Dental Auxiliaries Department.

Now for a personal note. My ten years at Montgomery College were strenuous, happy, and rewarding. I enjoyed the cooperation of faculty and staff. I had been a dental assistant before attending Oberlin College, and I am Certified Assistant Number 5692. My graduate work as well as my previous experience in four-year college teaching and Public Health provided a very helpful background for this program. I now live in McAllen, Texas, about ten miles north of Mexico. Retirement provides generous time to pursue my hobbies of art and music. Best wishes to the College for the next forty years.

Takoma Park Campus: Dental Assisting Department; Dental Auxiliaries Department; chairman, 1960–1970; Professor Emerita.