Many people learn to work as dental office receptionists on the job, but having an associate’s degree in dental office administration, medical administration, office management, or a related field can help you stand out from the crowd, especially in a competitive job market. To work as a dental office receptionist, you’ll typically need at least a high school diploma and the necessary skills. The job entails greeting patients, scheduling appointments, and collecting payments. To truly excel, you’ll need excellent customer service skills combined with a friendly dose of assertiveness.
Managing a dental office’s front desk can also necessitate strong coordination and organizational abilities. A typical day in a busy office entails checking multiple patients in and out as well as scheduling multiple appointments. Other responsibilities include billing various insurance companies, answering frequently ringing phones, and other duties. You should be able to multitask and have a flexible personality.
A dental office receptionist’s other task is to schedule appointments over the phone, so strong phone skills and a pleasant phone voice are important. Because many dental offices use computerized systems to track appointments and store and maintain patient records, strong computer skills are also required. It is critical to have prior computer experience and the ability to quickly learn new computer programs. Other office equipment, such as fax machines, copy machines, and scanners, can also be useful to know how to operate.
It’s a good idea to learn some basic dental terminology if you want to work as a dental office receptionist. Go to the library and do some research on dentistry. Learn the names and numbers of the teeth, as well as other terms used in dentistry.
After you’ve determined that you have the necessary knowledge and skills for this job, look for dental office receptionist jobs in your area through help wanted ads and job fairs. Look for job placement agencies that specialize in medical and dental candidates. Make connections and let people know what kind of job you’re looking for. Let your own dentist know about your interest, as he or she may be able to connect you with open positions in the field.
Make a list of local dental offices and send your resume to them. Even if a local office does not have an open position advertised, it may keep your information on file and contact you if one becomes available. In your cover letter and résumé, you can demonstrate your strong communication and other skills, which can help you get your foot in the door.