Our History
About
Career First Institute
Career First Institute was founded in 2024. It offers a training program for individuals pursuing a career as a dental assistant. Conducting training in an actual dental office enhances the learning experience for students enrolled in the Dental Assistant Program.
The term four-hand dentistry refers to the two hands of the dentist and the two hands of the dental assistant. Dental assistants are integral to the efficiency and success of a dental office.
Dental assistants support many essential tasks in a dental office, including:
- Seating patients in the dental operatory and reviewing their records
- Preparing instrument trays and sterilizing instruments for various dental procedures
- Passing instruments during procedures and suctioning to keep the mouth dry
- Taking dental x-rays
- Disinfecting operatories between patients
- Providing post-operative instructions and escorting patients to the front desk for checkout
Our Mission & Values
The objective of this program is to train students to seek employment in a dental office as an entry-level dental assistant, sterilization technician, or clinical assistant. The U.S. Department of Labor projects a faster-than-average growth rate of 8% for this profession from 2023 to 2033.
Training takes place in an actual dental office when it is closed to patients. This gives students real-world exposure to treatment rooms, a lab, a sterilization area, x-ray equipment, and front desk operations. Students gain practical experience through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training in a fully equipped dental setting.
Certified to operate by the
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
