Hidden Gems: Meet Richard Erickson of Dental Careers Institute, Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Erickson.

Hi Richard, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We are the originators of the affordable ten week dental assistant teaching program that has now spread all over the country. It began in 1986 when we hired an inexperienced person to be a dental assistant and spent about 3 months training her During cancellations and breaks to be a fully capable Dental assistant.

It was then the light bulb went off and we had of training not just one but 10 to 15 at a time and at a reasonable cost. Up to this point the two schools who were teaching dental assisting at the time were ridiculously expensive and virtually wasting the student’s time teaching them many things they didn’t need to know. Many of my colleagues would not even hire someone who graduated from one of these schools. As one of my colleagues stated, “They can’t even suction properly.”

My staff and I got together with a blank sheet of paper and stated, “What does a dental assistant really need to know?” After grouping all the topics properly, We had a 10 week dental assisting program.

We also marketed our program to dentists across the country and sold well over 100 to dentists nationwide. There have been many other copycat programs imitating ours but ours is the original ten week program.

Our local program is still in operation in Atlanta training dental assistants at a reasonable cost and in a reasonable time. We have received many compliments over the years from dentists who’ve hired are trained assistants and have been well pleased with their comprehensive training and professionalism. Also the feedback we have gotten from our graduates has been truly gratifying with many stating that we have changed their life.

Our program has continued to evolve and develop and of course be updated with the latest materials and procedures in dentistry. Our morning lectures are all PowerPoint presentations with many demonstration videos embedded in them.
We have trained over 3000 dental assistants in Atlanta since starting in 1986, and it’s hard to estimate what the nationwide total might be. To think we have taken many young women (and men), many of whom were in dead-end, or minimum wage jobs, and given them a professional challenging career, is the reason we love doing what we do.

Some comments from our graduates:
“I have great news!!! I landed the career of my dreams as a Dental Assistant. It has been an amazing, life-changing experience. Thank you so much to you and your great team of teachers Dr. E, this course has changed my life and I’m happy to say no more warehouse
jobs for me!!!!” Kabrina

“I just wanted to reach out and say thank you so much for your course and your [recommendation to Hygiene School] letter. I am graduating hygiene school in 6 months, and would not be here today without your class. I learned so much from your course, and it grew into a passion for dentistry. I would not be here today without your class.” Abigail

“I would like to thank you and all your staff for doing such an amazing job at DCI. I have been working at my new office for three weeks now. I absolutely LOVE working with my doctor and his staff! They were all impressed with how much I learned from DCI in only 10 weeks! Thank you again for teaching me so well and giving me the tools I needed to succeed as a dental assistant.” Kayla

“I’m a full-fledged Periodontal Surgical Assistant! I just LOVE my job and can’t wait to get to work. Thank you and all your wonderful staff for making this possible. You have literally changed my life!” Mya

“I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done. You have given me a new outlook on life and a self-confidence I’ve never had before. My FIRST interview and i got the job. You guys are obviously doing something right and I will be forever grateful to you guys. Thank you again!!” Beth

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
After our third and very small class of 3, I said to my assistant, “I think I’m going to end the school.” She wisely replied, “I think you should give it a little more time.”

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I borrowed $350K to build a new office when I had only been practicing for 3 years. It was a major financial risk. Secondly, opening this school was a completely new concept to train dental assistants in an actual dental office, by actual practicing dental professionals, and for a time, we weren’t sure we would succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mydentalcareers.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_oxPEqh390