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Jumpstart a Career in a Dental Field with MCC

MCC prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed and be hirable in thriving dental industries

Middlesex Community College helps students get the jobs they want faster. Students who earn an associate degree or certificate from Middlesex can go directly into the workforce or transfer to a four-year college or university. With three Dental Program options, MCC prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed and be hirable in thriving dental industries.

MCC’s Dental Laboratory Technology (DLT) Program is registering now for the Fall 2020 semester. The program will be offered in a hybrid format with lectures online and lab sessions in-person. Students who come to campus will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitize work stations, and follow social distancing guidelines.

Dental Lab Techs work behind the scenes to fabricate prosthetic devices based on prescriptions from a dentist. According to Apollon Bouzerdan, MCC’s DLT Program Coordinator, the field is not widely known, but – even in a struggling economy – offers excellent employment rates, entrepreneurship opportunities and earning potential.

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“Unlike other health professions, DLT is a career with minimal to no patient contact, which makes it ideal for those who want to lower their risks of being exposed to viruses – especially during a pandemic,” he said. “Our graduates are in high demand by local and out-of-state dental laboratories and dental companies.”

MCC alum Dany Karam graduated in 1999. He now works as the General Manager at Advanced Dental Technologies in Stoneham, which has a full service 30+ member team.

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“Now is a good time to become a dental technician,” he said. “Within the past decade, the industry has been moving in the direction of digital work. Well-educated and trained dental technicians continue to have the chance to do very well professionally and financially.”

Having the opportunity to work in a hands-on field appealed to Karam. The experiences he gained in the Middlesex DLT program still translate well to his job. He believes those who just receive on the job training “miss out on the important intricacies of the dental field in general.”

“Having graduated from MCC, I can see the differences it makes and has made in my career,” he said. “In this industry, it is easy to spot who went to school for this profession and who learned on the job. I believe this says a lot of how I think MCC prepared me. I continue to apply theories and techniques I learned over two decades ago at my bench on Central Street.”

Karam is from Lebanon and decided to become a dental technician the summer before his senior year of high school. After shadowing a friend at work, he was inspired and wanted the opportunity to help people regain their smiles.

He chose Middlesex after researching programs in the U.S. Because of the small class sizes and strong curriculum, Karam believes students are set up for success by learning important skills – such as waxing, gypsum, design, fit and finish – on devices that include an orthodontic appliance, a partial denture, complete denture, ceramic crowns or crown and bridge.

Although all of the MCC faculty and staff he worked with were supportive, Karam was especially inspired by his instructor Jerry Kessler, who helped each student reach their potential.

“The instructors were very helpful, knowledgeable and always encouraging,” he said. “MCC’s multicultural community made adjusting to campus life and my surroundings easier for me coming in as an international student.”

MCC’s DLT associate is a two-year, 69 credit full-time program. The certificate is a three semester, 28 credit part-time program considered a stepping stone to the associate degree. Graduates from the program go on to work in various dental environments, including a dental office, school or laboratory. The job is in high-demand, despite challenging times.

“MCC was a great experience and after all these years if I had to, I would do it all over again,” Karam said. “If anyone loves science and technology and would like to combine it with biology, there’s no better career more rewarding than dental technology. After all – who doesn’t love making people smile again?”

For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/dltdepartment/ or contact Apollon Bouzerdan at BouzerdanA@middlesex.mass.edu or 978-656-3056.

This fall, MCC is offering courses in three dental fields – Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting and Dental Laboratory Technology. MCC offers personalized financial aid counseling, payment plans and a supportive community to help keep students on track with their goals.

MCC is offering incentives to help students continue their education. One incentive offers 50 percent off a first class to students who were laid-off due to COVID-19. The college is also offering 50 percent off one course to new students in celebration of the college’s 50th anniversary. Qualifying students must register by September 10.

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/save for participation rule.

To register for Fall classes, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

If you have ever taken a class at MCC, you are an alum! To share your story – contact Amy Lee, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at 978-656-3028 or leea@middlesex.mass.edu. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/alumni/ for more information and to join the Alumni Association.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!

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