TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.-Northwestern Michigan College and Bay Mills Community College have partnered in an effort to increase the number of dental assistants serving northern Michigan, and Native American patients in particular.
In February, NMC and Bay Mills, a tribally-controlled Upper Peninsula community college in Brimley, Mich., signed an agreement that will allow Bay Mills' students to transfer to NMC's dental assistant program after their first year. NMC's yearlong dental assistant curriculum allows them to sit for the state exam to become a registered dental assistant (RDA).
"With a registered dental assistant, a dentist can see about 60 percent more patients. They can do more clinical procedures under the dentist's supervision," said Dr. Jessica Rickert, a former Traverse City area dentist who has used NMC graduates in her practice.
Rickert is also the first female Native American dentist in the United States, and remains the only one in Michigan. She now consults with insurer Delta Dental of Michigan and leads Anishinaabe Dental Outreach, whose goal is to improve dental health in Native communities. She saw an opportunity to connect NMC and Bay Mills to better serve the Upper Peninsula, where the shortage of dental professionals is especially acute.
"The scarcity of timely dental care is causing serious hardship," Rickert said.
"Our communities need more dental professionals of any kind. This seems like a really good fit," agreed Diana McKenzie, dean of science and allied health at Bay Mills, which enrolls about 600 students. About 62 percent are Native American. Among more than 315,000 dental assistants nationwide, Rickert said only 0.7% are American Indian or Alaska Native.
Natalia Chugunov, chair of the Bay Mills science department, said she hopes the partnership can benefit tribal health centers, too. "We try to help both the community, our college and our students," she said.
NMC recently invested $52,000 in new equipment for the dental assistant program. It has six fully-functioning patient rooms and some of the latest technology, including an intraoral scanner.
"After earning their associate degree and passing the RDA exam, a dental assistant can expect to begin their career making between $18 and $25 per hour," NMC Dental Assistant Director Beckie Wooters said. A typical workweek is only four days, offering flexibility. Job settings include general practice dental offices, pediatric offices, oral surgery and other specialty offices, dental labs and more.
The program has been designed with student convenience in mind. Bay Mills' students can take their first year of general education requirements entirely online. The second year of in-person dental assistant classes is scheduled in a Tuesday-Thursday block, allowing students to spend most of their week back home in the U.P., if necessary. On-campus housing is also available at NMC.
Rickert said the Michigan Dental Association, the American Dental Association and other sources offer scholarships to students of color.
