HealthLinc Addresses Dental Assistant Shortages with In-House Training Program

As dental practices across the nation grapple with staffing shortages, HealthLinc, a federally qualified health center in Northwest Indiana, has implemented a successful in-house training program to cultivate its own workforce of dental assistants. This initiative not only alleviates staffing gaps but also expands access to crucial dental care for the community.

The Growing Dental Assistant Shortage

Dental offices rely heavily on skilled dental assistants to ensure smooth operations. These professionals are responsible for patient preparation, sterilization, assisting during procedures, and managing front-desk tasks. Without adequate staffing, dentists’ capacity to treat patients is significantly limited. According to Dr. Isaac Zeckel, Chief Dental Officer at HealthLinc, “The challenge from the dental field is that a dental office really runs with the staff. The dentist is just the license that oversees things, but the function that makes it function is done by assistants and front-desk staff.”

HealthLinc experienced increasing difficulty recruiting dental assistants even before the COVID-19 pandemic, a problem exacerbated by private practices offering higher wages. “There were times we couldn’t even figure out how to have one assistant for each dentist,” Dr. Zeckel stated.

HealthLinc’s Innovative Solution

In 2021, HealthLinc proactively addressed the shortage by establishing its own training program. Dental educator Lita Gamez was hired to develop a comprehensive four-month curriculum combining classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience. Students dedicate two days a week to classroom learning and three days working alongside experienced assistants and dentists within HealthLinc’s dental clinics.

“Most of the people we bring in have no dental experience,” Dr. Zeckel noted, highlighting the program’s accessibility.

Financial Support and Program Benefits

HealthLinc provides substantial financial support to students, covering tuition, licensing fees, scrubs, and supplies. Notably, participants are also paid a stipend during their training. This is made possible through grant funding from the Delta Dental Foundation and Indiana’s Next Level Jobs program. Students also receive guidance in preparing for the Indiana dental X-ray licensing exam, a requirement for many dental assistant positions.

“The thing that sets us apart is that we pay our students to learn,” Dr. Zeckel emphasized.

Program Success and Expansion of Roles

The program has proven highly successful, significantly bolstering HealthLinc’s dental assistant workforce. As of March 2026, HealthLinc employs 17 dental assistants, with 12 having completed the in-house training program. The program also facilitates career advancement opportunities for assistants.

“We’ve taken three assistants we trained and helped them turn into expanded function assistants,” Dr. Zeckel explained. Expanded function assistants can place fillings after a dentist has prepared the tooth, freeing up dentists to focus on more complex procedures.

Increased Patient Capacity and Wider Impact

By improving staffing levels, HealthLinc has increased its capacity to serve patients. Dr. Zeckel illustrated this impact: “If my capacity as a dentist is 2,800 patient encounters a year, with only one assistant, I might only reach 1,400.” The training program is crucial for maintaining services at HealthLinc’s dental clinics.

“If we didn’t have this program, I don’t think we could see the number of patients we’re seeing,” Dr. Zeckel stated. “It would be really difficult to keep the offices open.”

HealthLinc’s model is gaining recognition, with Dr. Zeckel actively sharing the program’s framework with other community health centers facing similar workforce challenges. “There’s nothing unique about what we started,” he said. “I’ve been advocating for other health centers to do this. I don’t see how we would be functional without this program.”