Herzing College

Dental Assisting (AASDA)

Dental Assistants have a number of different responsibilities, including patient care, office work, and performing laboratory procedures. They work alongside dentists, assisting while the dentist examines and treats the patients. They prepare patients for procedures, deal with medical records, and keep the patients relaxed and comfortable. In addition to maintaining a dry working area inside of a patient's mouth through suction equipment, assistants can be responsible for giving instruments and materials to the dentist. Assistants are also responsible to keep instruments and equipment sterilized and disinfected, set up trays for dental procedures, and to give patients instructions on postoperative and general oral health care. Preparing materials for making impressions and restorations, exposing radiographs, and processing dental X-ray film are also duties performed by some dental assistants.

The average time for an individual with a full class load is 4.5 semesters. At least 67 semester credit hours are required for graduation.

Dental Assisting - Career Paths

Opportunities for trained and certified Dental Assistants are on the rise throughout the entire health care industry. More assistants are expected to be hired by dentists to perform daily routine tasks so that they can devote their own time to more difficult procedures. Herzing College graduates can find themselves on career paths like:

• Chairside Dental Assistant
• Dental Front Desk
• Dental Office / Reception

Dental Assisting: Diploma

The main goal is to prepare students to be a vital part of the dental health community. This means students must become trained to perform a number of tasks, including chairside assisting, performing laboratory work, administrative duties and much more.