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Herzing University

What is it like to work as a dental assistant?

Dental assistants work in a well-lit, clean environment either chair-side with a dentist or in an administrative role or lab setting.  Full-time and part-time positions offering day and/or evening hours are available, offering a diverse range of work settings from large corporations with multiple locations to smaller private practices. Dental assistants may also work in schools, hospital settings and the military.

Working alongside a dentist, the dental assistant's patient care work includes:

  • Handling instruments and operating dental equipment
  • Sterilizing instruments and equipment
  • Taking dental x-rays and processing the film
  • Removing sutures
  • Applying topical anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth
  • Placing rubber dams on the teeth to isolate them for individual treatment
  • Sitting chairside with the dentist to assist with procedures
  • Obtaining health and dental history information from patients
  • Producing diagnostic dental x-rays to aid in treatment planning
  • Applying current infection control techniques within the dental office
  • Performing expanded functions, such as polishing, applying sealants and others, with appropriate training in line with state mandates

In addition, these professionals can also be involved in office-related tasks such as scheduling and confirming appointments, maintaining treatment records, handling patient payments and ordering supplies and other materials.

There are a variety of settings in which a dental assistant can work. Those include, but are not limited to, private practice, clinics, military positions, correctional facilities, nursing homes, schools, health departments and labs.  Herzing University provides its dental assistant program graduates with a wide range of skills that can be applied to a variety of settings.

Professional dental assistants demonstrate exceptional time management skills, multitasking abilities, are detailed oriented, and contribute to a positive team environment while focusing on patient care as a top priority.

Herzing University Receives Grant to Support Student Child Care Costs

hschiller
Submitted by hschiller on

Herzing University has been awarded a $768,000 federal grant to assist students with child care costs.

The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and helps cover students’ cost of keeping their children enrolled in a quality child care center. Herzing’s grant reward is $192,000 per year* through Sept. 30, 2025, and will allow the school to provide a subsidy payable to the child care provider. 

Nursing vs. healthcare administration: what's the difference?

Considering going from ASN/ADN to MHA, or BSN to MHA and weighing the differences between nursing and health administration? Pursuing an MHA could represent a big step to transition out of a direct patient care role in nursing into broader administrative or leadership roles.

Current RNs may also consider a more nursing-focused master’s degree curriculum such as our Nursing Leadership and Administration programs (BSN to MSN or ADN to MSN options available). If your goal is to climb the ranks in your nursing department and qualify for jobs like Nurse Director or Chief Nursing Officer, this graduate-level pathway might be even better for you. You may also consider our public health master's in nursing program as an alternative.

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