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.

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.

Earn a master’s in healthcare administration, and you can potentially compete for jobs as a Medical and Health Services Manager.

The average annual salary for medical and health services managers is $134,440 per year ($64.64 per hour) nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).*

Learn more about how much you can make in healthcare administration.

Hospital administrators and other types of medical and health services managers most often need at least a bachelor’s degree, although master’s degrees are common in these roles and can be preferred by employers.

A Master of Science in Healthcare Administration equips you with the skills and knowledge to better qualify for upper-level administrative jobs.

In general, healthcare executives or administrators are responsible for directing and coordinating health services. Executives work closely with healthcare staff and business leaders to improve the delivery of healthcare for an organization.

Job descriptions and specific roles and responsibilities will vary by position, but typical duties include developing goals and objectives, ensuring compliance, supervising staff members, managing finances, managing budgets, represent the institution at board or investor meetings, and much more.