A Grassroots Approach to Expanding the Dental Workforce
A South Side Chicago clinic is redefining how dental teams are built by training future assistants right in the community they serve. With ultra-affordable certification and real-world experience, this program is growing more than careers, it’s transforming access to care.
In a time when workforce shortages strain dental practices nationwide, an innovative program on Chicago’s South Side is flipping the script — training dental assistants from within underserved communities to expand both the workforce and patient trust. The Mile Square Health Center Dental Assistant Certification Program is doing more than filling jobs, it’s launching careers and reshaping the future of dental care.
For many, an orthodontic experience sparked a career shift. But it was Mile Square’s uniquely affordable, community-based training model that made it possible. While other programs run up to $11,000, Mile Square charges students just $300, thanks to funding from the Delta Dental Foundation of Illinois and the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation.
Launched in 2022, the 14-week certification program is housed within a fully equipped clinic in Auburn Gresham, a neighborhood where both healthcare access and employment opportunities are limited. The program equips students with hands-on experience in everything from pediatric dentistry to oral surgery, preparing graduates to work in complex care environments from day one.
More than 50 students have already completed the program, many of whom now work in Mile Square clinics or have moved on to advanced dental careers. The ripple effect is profound: when assistants reflect the communities they serve, patient comfort, trust, and outcomes improve. Click here to read more.
