SCRANTON, PA — We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day this past March, a time of excitement for all of us here in Northeast Pennsylvania. But March also marked an important observation of some of our community’s vital healthcare workers: Dental Assistants Recognition Week.

This national observance was established by the American Dental Assistants Association to honor the hardworking individuals who are vital to every dental practice. This year’s theme, “Superheroes behind the Smiles,” shines a spotlight on these unsung heroes who perform a wide range of essential tasks. From assisting with procedures and sterilizing instruments to taking X-rays, scheduling appointments and handling billing, dental assistants are the backbone of any successful dental team. Without them, it would be impossible to fully deliver on the mission of comprehensive dental care.

At The Wright Center, we’re fortunate to have an exceptional team of dental assistants who support our dentists and hygienists in providing top-quality care to our patients. Their professionalism, dedication and compassion are truly second to none, and I’m proud to call them my colleagues.

Dental assisting is not only a vital role but also a career in high demand. Locally, we’re experiencing a shortage of dental assistants, making this an excellent and rewarding career path for those interested in joining the health care field.

Our dental services are available at our Scranton, Mid Valley and Wilkes-Barre locations, where we provide comprehensive, safety-net dental care as part of our Patient-Centered Medical Home model. We believe that everyone deserves access to quality dental services, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. That’s why we offer a sliding-fee discount program for eligible patients, based on family size and income.

Our services include cleanings, exams, X-rays, fillings, extractions, dentures, emergency dental care and oral cancer screenings

Good dental hygiene plays a crucial role in overall health. By keeping our mouths, teeth and gums clean, we prevent cavities and more serious conditions like periodontal (gum) disease—a bacterial infection that can lead to gum and bone deterioration, severe pain, and even tooth loss. Emerging research has also linked poor oral health to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, emphasizing the importance of regular dental care.

We’re also proud to serve our communities through Driving Better Health, our mobile medical and dental unit. This 34-foot vehicle brings essential care to traditionally underserved neighborhoods and rural areas, visiting schools, senior living centers, homeless shelters and community hubs. Since its launch in 2020, our bilingual, multidisciplinary team has worked tirelessly to break down barriers to affordable, high-quality, nondiscriminatory whole-person primary health services, improving health equity across the region.

As we continue to expand our dental services, you can count on our dedicated dental assistants to be at the heart of it all, delivering compassionate, top-notch care to every patient. To our dental assistants: we salute you today and every day.

Caitlin McCarthy, D.M.D., specializes in general practice dentistry and serves as Advanced Education in General Dentistry local site director and clinical site director at The Wright Center for Community Health. She is accepting new patients of all ages. Appointments can be made at TheWrightCenter.org or by calling 570/941-0630 to make an appointment.