The Aiken Technical College Foundation has been awarded a grant through the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation to support the college’s expanded duty dental assisting program.

Grant funds will be used to purchase upgraded equipment for the dental assisting lab, such as digital sensors, specialty instruments and cassettes, an autoclave, and preventive dentistry carts, also known as standalone operatories.

The additions ensure that the program’s equipment reflects the latest in the industry, said Angela Odom, program director for the expanded duty dental assisting program.

“I am excited that our program was chosen for this grant,” Odom said. “As a graduate of the expanded duty dental assisting program 28 years ago and now the program director, it means so much to me to be able to keep this program up-to-date in all of the significant changes that are happening yearly in dentistry.”

Odom added that the purchase of new standalone operatories will also double the program’s current operatories, greatly expanding opportunities for enrollment growth.

Aiken Tech’s expanded duty dental assisting program, accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, prepares students to work alongside dentists, help develop and manage infection control protocol, and manage dental offices. For more information about the program, visit https://www.atc.edu/Study/Programs-of-Study/Health-Sciences/Dental-Assisting.