Twin Cities to Smile More with Herzing University's Expanded Dental Degrees

MINNEAPOLIS, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Herzing University announced today it is answering the strong demand from dental employers by expanding its dental assisting program and offering a streamlined pathway into its dental hygiene program.

Herzing has created the "Dental Assisting to Dental Hygiene Pathway" as a way to help more individuals enter and advance in the dental field, meeting the growing demand from local dental clinics.

"With more than 40 locations as we are continuing to grow, we are recruiting for dental assistants that embrace our commitment to quality care and service to deliver a superior patient experience," said Charley Clough, talent acquisition consultant at Metro Dentalcare.

Herzing is one of only three dental hygiene programs in the state, and is the only school currently offering a clear pathway for dental assisting students who maintain a 3.0 GPA at any institution accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) to advance into the dental hygiene program at Herzing. Qualified students can complete the dental hygiene degree program within 18 months. Students can also transfer up to nine credits from a dental assisting program into Herzing's dental hygiene program.

"The Herzing dental assisting to dental hygiene pathway provides students a direct route for enrollment," said Jason Morgan, Minneapolis Campus President at Herzing University. "Our faculty and advisory board know that dental assistants typically fare better in the hygiene program because they have some experience and understand the fundamentals to be successful. Additionally, both dental assisting and dental hygiene have great career outlooks, and students become even more marketable when they're trained for both positions."

Further differentiating Herzing University from others in the area, Herzing provides students with opportunities to engage with employers early on in their programs and volunteer in the community through its onsite dental clinic. Herzing also offers dental hygiene classes in the evening so that students can work during the day.

Both the dental assisting and dental hygiene career fields are expected to grow nearly 20 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dental assistants and hygienists perform different duties and being able to handle both roles provides mutual benefits to the employee and employer, including staffing efficiencies and better retention.

Dental assistants perform a variety of tasks including assisting the dentist during procedures at the chairside of the patient, patient education, taking radiographs, polishing teeth and taking impressions. In addition, these professionals can also be involved in office-related tasks such as scheduling and confirming appointments, maintaining treatment records and handling patient payments.

Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. They examine patients' teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities and provide periodontal scaling and root planing.

The Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting program, Diploma in Dental Assisting program and the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene at Herzing's Minneapolis campus are accredited by CODA.

Herzing University is known for its healthcare, technology and business degree programs with flexible schedules and a supportive learning environment. For more information about Herzing's dental assisting and dental hygiene programs, please visit https://www.herzing.edu/healthcare.   

About Herzing University 
Herzing University, an accredited private nonprofit institution, encompasses 11 campuses in eight states, a continuing education division, an online division, and has a current enrollment of approximately 6,000 students. Founded in Milwaukee in 1965, today the University offers career-focused, convenient and caring education for master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees, diplomas and continuing education in the fields of nursing, technology, business, healthcare and public safety. From 2013 through 2017, U.S. News & World Report recognized Herzing University as having some of the "Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs" nationally. Herzing University has also been recognized on the GI Jobs magazine list of "Military Friendly Schools" from 2013 through 2017. Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; www.hlcommission.org or (800) 621-7440. More information about Herzing University is available at: www.herzing.edu.

Contact:
Candice Hudson
312-661-1050
[email protected]

SOURCE Herzing University

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