All aspects of a dental practice are coordinated by dental office managers. Answering phones, entering patients’ dental appointments into the computer, maintaining the dentist’s schedule, hiring office assistants, training new hires, keeping patient records, and ensuring that dental lab results are properly organized are all examples of their work. It is generally beneficial to have post-secondary school training if you want to be a dental office manager.
Some people choose to work as dental assistants or dental hygienists first, then go on to work as a dental office manager as a result of their previous work as a dental assistant or dental hygienist. Of course, if you don’t want to be a dental assistant or hygienist and only want to be a dental office manager, a two-year associate’s degree in dental office administration or dentist office management can help. If you want to be a dental office manager, you can get a four-year bachelor’s degree in dental office administration.
Marketing, staff management, and account management are all topics covered in dental office manager programs. Database management, medical billing, and patient communications are among the other topics covered. A practicum involving supervised office work in a dental office may be required in some cases. This coursework will help you develop the specific office skills you’ll need as a dental office manager.
Pharmacology, pathology, and medical terminology are also covered in dental office management programs. These courses are true to say that they are more medical in nature than office-related. Nonetheless, students in dental office management programs are expected to have a general understanding of medical or dental topics in order to be more effective in their roles as dental office managers.
A certification called the Dental Practice Management Administrator Certification existed in the past (DPMAC). Due to efforts in the profession to update certification requirements, that particular certification was phased out in 2008. This certification will be available again at some point in the future, but the exact date is unknown. Although certification is not required, it can be advantageous because it demonstrates that you are knowledgeable about dental office management procedures and are dedicated to the profession. Prospective employers are likely to view the certification as a plus, and as a result, the certification will almost certainly broaden your career options in the long run.