CCRI Dental Assisting Program Director Kerri Friel discusses her path into oral health, the role of dental assistants, workforce challenges, clinical education, and opportunities for young people interested in dentistry.
Brush Bridge spoke with Kerri Friel, Director of the Dental Assisting Program at the Community College of Rhode Island, about her journey from dental hygiene and orthodontic assisting into dental education.
In the conversation, Friel explains why she considers dental assistants an essential part of the dental team, what distinguishes formally trained and certified dental assistants, and why recruitment and retention remain major challenges for the profession. She also discusses CCRI's hands-on approach to dental education, the importance of community-based experiences, and ways high-school students can begin exploring careers in oral health.
The interview concludes with a look at an initiative Friel is working on to strengthen Rhode Island's dental-assisting career pathway by creating clearer opportunities for advancement within the profession.
“I personally feel that the dental assistant is the backbone of the dental office.”
— Kerri Friel
Friel describes dental assistants as the backbone of the dental office, with responsibilities that can include infection control, instrument processing, inventory, radiographs, patient preparation, post-operative education, and coordination throughout the practice.
She explains the distinction between entry-level training and CCRI's accredited dental-assisting program, including preparation for national certification and additional clinical functions.
Friel discusses the demanding pace of dental assisting and the importance of compensation, recognition, professional development, and advancement opportunities in keeping trained assistants in the profession.
Students combine classroom instruction with extensive laboratory and externship experience, including exposure to community health centers, general dentistry, and specialty practices.
Friel encourages students to interview dental professionals, attend career fairs and college open houses, and learn about careers beyond becoming a dentist—including dental assisting and dental hygiene.
Friel describes her work toward a multi-level dental-assisting pathway in Rhode Island, where assistants could progress from entry-level roles to certified and eventually expanded-function positions.
Exposure matters. Many young people interested in healthcare simply don't realize how many careers exist within dentistry.
Kerri Friel is the Director of the Dental Assisting Program at the Community College of Rhode Island. Her career has included work in dental hygiene, orthodontic assisting, clinical education, and dental-assisting education. Her professional experience also includes involvement with certification and dental regulation, giving her a broad perspective on dental education and workforce development.
Brush Bridge Conversations features oral-health professionals, educators, researchers, and community leaders whose work is helping shape the future of oral health. Through these conversations, Brush Bridge aims to introduce young people and communities to the people, careers, challenges, and ideas influencing oral health today.
