Category Archives: Careers & Jobs

Becoming a Dental Administrative Assistant

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Dental Administrative Assistants perform general office duties in various dental care settings. They work closely with patients, other office staff, and a dental care team. Their responsibilities include scheduling dental appointments, maintaining patient records, performing inventory management, maintaining equipment, helping with insurance claims, coordinating the staff members and performing other duties assigned to them.

Dental Administrative Assistants may find employment in various environments such as dentist’s office, dental care facilities, insurance companies, public hospitals, group medical practices etc. They mostly work full time. They spend most of their time at a desk, working with documents, various forms, and computer system.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Administrative Assistant, the aspiring candidates need to hold at least a high school diploma, or the equivalent. Additionally, they need to complete a dental-assisting training program. It takes one to two years duration to complete the training program, depending on the institutions. The students learn about dental terminology, patient billing, clinical record management, insurance reimbursement, inventory management etc. The job aspirants may learn the required skills through on-the job-training.

Certification and Licensure

Dental Administrative Assistants typically don’t require license. However, most of the employers prefer certified job aspirants in this field. Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) offer certification to these professionals.

Skill Set

Dental Administrative Assistants possess various traits such as excellent customer service skills, mastery in recall and filing system, effective communication skills and interpersonal skills, ability to establish and maintain cordial relation with staff members, understanding of insurance procedures, competent in computer operations, organizational skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Administrative Assistant remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 25% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Administrative Assistant was $34,500 in May 2012.

Becoming a Dental Secretary

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Dental Secretaries are dedicated to perform routine clerical and administrative duties for dentists. Their responsibilities include screening and sorting mail, documents, and telephone calls; scheduling appointments; billing patients; maintaining office files and patient records; transcribing dictation; arranging staff meetings; support other staff, so on and so forth. These professionals use computer software to create spreadsheets and maintain official documents.

Dental Secretaries closely work with Dentists in various health care settings such as hospitals, private dental offices, dental care facilities, army hospitals etc. these professionals need to be familiar with dental terminology, medical records, and hospital or laboratory procedures.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Secretary, the aspiring candidates need to complete at least a high school diploma or GED at entry level. The students can obtain two year associate degree program in medical and office administration for better job prospects in this field. The students should learn office procedures, computer programs, dental terminology, and how to prepare office documents. The job aspirants can improve their skills through short-term on-the-job training.

Certification and Licensure

The position of a Dental Secretary typically doesn’t require a license. However, some employers prefer the certified job applicants with some experience. The candidates can obtain certification from the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Skill Set

Dental Secretaries possess various traits such as good listening abilities, excellent organizational skills, efficient in time management, excellent organizational skills, good at customer service, excellent reporting skills, pleasant communication and interpersonal skills, competent in computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Secretary remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 36% from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Dental Secretary was $36,960 in May 2012.

Becoming a Dental Specialist

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Dental Specialists treat a specific area of oral problems, in which they have received additional training in addition to or instead of general dentistry. American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes nine different categories of Dental Specialties, such as Endodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons , oral and maxillofacial radiology , oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedists, periodontists, prosthodontists , Pediatric dentists , and Dental public health.

The responsibilities of Dental Specialists differ according to their area of expertise. For example, oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide diagnostic services and treatment for injuries, diseases, and defects of the neck, head jaw, and associated structures, while periodontists perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease.

Dental Specialists can practice alone or involve in a group practice. They can also work in different settings such as public or private hospitals, oral health care facilities, dental research facilities etc. Most of them work full time. Some of them may work during evenings and weekends, if required.

Educational Requirements

To qualify for the position of a Dental Specialist, the candidates have to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) and go through additional two-year training also known as post-graduate training in one area of nine dental specialties. These training programs include extremely specialized clinical practicum.

Most dental students need at least a four-year bachelor’s degree with a major in a science, such as biology; and must have to pass Dental Admission Test (DAT) to pursue DDS or DMD in an accredited dental school. It takes four years to complete a DDS or DMD. The course work includes anatomy, periodontology, local anesthesia, radiology. The students also get practical experience in a clinical setting under the supervision of a licensed dentist.

Certification and Licensure

The practice of Dental Specialist must be licensed in all states. To earn a license the candidates must graduate from an accredited dental school and pass written and practical exams. National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists offer certification to these professionals.

Skill Set               

Apart from clinical knowledge, a Dental Specialist possesses various skills such as high level of dexterity, excellent attention to detail, empathy towards patient, organizational skills, high medical ethics, effective communications and interpersonal skills, physical stamina to stand for long periods of time, competent in computer operations, etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Specialist remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 16% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Specialist was ranging from $168,580 to $219,600 in May 2014.

Becoming a Dental Office Manager

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Dental Office Managers oversee the day-to-day non-medical activities in various dental care environments. They are mainly responsible for coordinating all the administrative duties such as making budget, administering billing process, scheduling appointments, hiring clerical staff, facilitating training to staff members, organizing staff meetings, managing the marketing and promotional programs, maintaining cordial relations with other organizations, handling payrolls and insurance claims etc. They work closely with the Dentist and other employees to facilitate them for effective performance while providing dental services. However, these professionals are not involved in treating patients.

Dental Office Managers work in various dental care settings such as public or private hospitals, clinics, dentist’s office, dental care facilities, insurance companies, group medical practices, etc. They usually work full time. They may be required to work in night shifts, even in the weekends if required.

Educational Requirements

To qualify for the position of a Dental Office Manager, the aspiring candidates have to earn at least a high school diploma and a one- year certificate program in dental office administration or healthcare-related field from an accredited institution. The job aspirants can also receive experiences on-the-job training.

The coursework in the certificate program covers dental terminology, dental charting, quantitative reasoning, dental insurance procedure, fiscal management, billing, human management, computer applications etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since Dental Office Managers are required to be licensed in many states of USA, the aspiring candidates need to pass the state licensure examination. The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) offers exam-based certification to these professionals.

Skill Set               

Dental Office Managers possess varieties of skills such as resource management abilities, critical thinking and decision making abilities, time management skills, administrative abilities, understanding of dental policies and procedures, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to perform multi-task activities, willingness to maintain cordial relationship with staff members and other organizations, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Office Manager remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 10% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Office Manager was ranging from $30,400 to $61,000 in 2014.

Becoming a Dental Biller

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Dental Billers work with the patients and insurance companies while processing insurance claims and medical bills incurred by patients for all services rendered.  They ensure proper electronic attachment submission as well as accurate posting of all medical bills and claims with daily progress reports through the phone call or email. They also request all the stake holders for other additional information, required from the office in order to send out claims for payment. These professionals maintain an appropriate compliance with company policies and the regulatory bodies.

Dental Billers are employed in variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, dentists’ offices, long-term care facilities etc. They may act as the link between patients and the insurance companies. They usually work full time.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Biller, the aspiring candidates need to hold at least a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, the students can earn medical billing certificate program. The aspirants may also pursue higher studies with the major coursework in mathematics, accounting, business administration or other related subjects for better job prospects in this field. The common course work includes dental terminologies, mathematics, numerical calculations, dental coding, medical ethics etc.

However, most of the employers prefer job aspirants with some experience in medical billing, collections or financial analysis.

Certification

Though certification is not required to become a Dental Biller, many employers in USA prefer certified job aspirants. The candidates can obtain certification from the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management or the Medical-Dental-Hospital Business Associates for this profession.

Skill Set

Dental Billers possess various traits such as organizational skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to perform multi-task activities in a setting, high level of attention to detail, empathy towards patient, high medical ethics, ability to work in a team spirit, competent in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Biller remains excellent in USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 16% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Biller was $35,621 in May 2014.

Becoming a Dental Assistant

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Dental Assistants play a key role in dental care settings by performing varieties of tasks, ranging from patient care to administrative and laboratory duties. They assist the Dentists while providing dental treatment to the patients of all age groups. Their responsibilities include preparing patients; examining rooms for dental procedures; handing required instruments to dentists during procedures; sterilizing instruments; taking and exposing x-rays; providing CPR, first aid and adjunctive services in emergency situation; providing patient education and post-operative instructions for proper dental hygiene and nutritional intake; maintaining records of dental treatments; and performing other duties assigned to them.

Dental Assistants may work in different environments such as hospitals, private dental offices, group practices, armed services, dental manufacturing companies, educational institutions etc. However, they work under direct supervision of dentists and may work closely with dental hygienists in their working environments.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Assistant, the aspiring candidates have to earn at least a high school diploma, certificate or an associate degree programs before completing the dental assisting programs, accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Dental assisting programs usually take 9 to 11 months to complete. The programs include classroom and laboratory work in which students learn about teeth, gums, jaws, dental science and other areas that dentists work on and the instruments that dentists use. The students also gain some practical experiences through these programs. .

Certification and Licensure

Since a Dental Assistant requires to be licensed in most of the states, the aspiring candidates need to pass the Licensure examination. To obtain professional certification, the Dental Assistants have to pass the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Skill Set               

Dental Assistant possess various skills such as high level of attention to detail; ability to work well in a team-oriented environment, excellent organizational skills, good listening abilities, efficient in manual dexterity, instruments management abilities, pleasant communication and interpersonal activities, competent in computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Assistant remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 25% from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Dental Assistant was $34,500 in May 2012.

Becoming a Dental Administrator

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Dental Administrators perform varieties of tasks in the dental care environments. They may function as treatment coordinators, office managers or any related positions. However they are not involved in treating patients. Their duties include attending phone calls, scheduling appointments, assisting in insurance claims, maintaining equipment, performing clerical tasks such as filing, faxing, mailing, word processing etc. in addition, they may oversee marketing, budgeting, and personnel management part of the setting.

Dental Administrators may be employed in varieties dental care settings such as dentist’s office, dental care facilities, insurance companies, group medical practices, public and private hospitals etc. They work full time. Some of these professionals may be required to work during evenings, on weekends, or overnight shifts according to their responsibilities and working environment.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Administrator, the aspiring candidates need to hold at least a high school diploma. Additionally the job aspirants can obtain one- year certificate programs in dental office administration from various community colleges. However, the students can also learn practical experiences on-the-job training.

The syllabus in the certificate program includes dental terminology, dental charting, recall management, dental insurance, quantitative reasoning, fiscal management, accounting, computer applications etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since the position of a Dental Administrator requires to be licensed in many states, the aspiring candidates have to pass the state licensure examination. These professionals can obtain exam based certification administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Skill Set

Dental Administrators possess various traits such as high level of critical thinking, excellent decision making, empathy towards customer service, time management abilities, administrative skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to manage multi-task activities, willing to work in a team spirit, competent in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Administrator remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 10% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Administrator was ranging from $32,000 to $61,000 in 2014.

Becoming a Critical Care Coordinator

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Critical Care Coordinators play a key role in facilitating treatment, assessment and coordination of service to patients with serious, complex, and acute illnesses and injuries that need very close monitoring and treatment. Their responsibilities include addressing the urgent needs of the patients, conducting crisis screenings, co-coordinating with service providers, assisting physicians and surgeons in the emergency room, performing patient care after surgery, analyzing patients’ radiology and laboratory tests etc. They also help in administrative activities and supervision process as well as perform other duties assigned to them.

Critical Care Coordinators work in intensive care units in hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, offices of physicians etc. Since these professionals are required to be available round the clock, they have to work either in day or night shifts and may require to present on-call.

Educational Requirements

To become a Critical Care Coordinator, the aspiring candidates need to complete Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The students can gain experience in health care settings with urgent and intense circumstances.

The course work of Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program include anatomy, epidemiology, biology, microbiology, pathophysiology, physical assessment and diagnostic reasoning, advanced pharmacology etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since the Critical Care Coordinators require to be licensed in most of the states in USA, the job aspirants need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The candidates can also obtain required certification from professional associations in the field of critical care.

Skill Set               

Apart from clinical knowledge, Critical Care Coordinators possess varieties of skills such as a great deal of understandings in life support skills, high level of attention to detail, ability to make a diagnosis based on observations and data interpretation, effective verbal and written communication skills, proficient in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Critical Care Coordinator remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 19% during 2012-2022 faster than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Critical Care Coordinator was $65,470 in 2012.

Becoming a Cosmetic Dental Assistant

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Cosmetic Dental Assistants play a supportive role in a dentist’s office in the field of cosmetic dentistry such as veneers, teeth whitening, enameloplasty, and orthodontics. Their responsibilities include sterilizing dental instruments, handing instruments to the dentist, using equipment to keep patients’ mouths dry during procedures, casting impressions of teeth, taking x-rays and providing patient care. They also perform some administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments, patient billing, record keeping, ordering supplies etc. In addition, they educate patients on proper oral hygiene.

Cosmetic Dental Assistants mostly work in dentists’ offices or oral health maintenance organizations. They work under the direct supervision of dentists and may work closely with dental hygienists in their day-to-day activities. They usually work full time. However, they may work in evenings or weekends, depending on their responsibilities and office settings.

Educational Requirements

There are various education programs to become a Cosmetic Dental Assistant, such as high school diploma, certificate and associate degree programs from accredited institutions. High school students may choose the subjects including anatomy, biology, chemistry etc., and then take training on the job.

However, the job aspirants need to complete dental-assisting training programs, approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The two-year long training programs include classroom learning and laboratory work in which students learn about teeth, jaws, gums, hands on training and the medical equipment that dentists use

Certification and Licensure

Since Cosmetic Dental Assistants are required to be licensed in many states in USA, the aspiring candidates need to complete a training program and pass an examination. The candidates can also obtain exam-based certification administered by the Dental Assisting National Board.

Skill Set        

Apart from clinical knowledge, Cosmetic Dental Assistants possess various skills such as attention to detail, empathy towards patients, ability to work well in a team-oriented environment, listening abilities, understanding of cosmetic dental terminologies, ability to monitor medical equipment, effective communication and interpersonal skills, competent in computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Cosmetic Dental Assistant remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 25% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Cosmetic Dental Assistant was $34,500 in May 2012.

Becoming a Complementary Health Practitioner

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Complementary Health Practitioners provide various types of therapies and treatments that are required in conjunction with the conventional treatment program prescribed by medical doctors. They may offer acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, massage, osteopathy, physiotherapy, or other alternative medicine treatments. They also tend to be strongly prevention-oriented and place a high value on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. These professions often incorporate low-tech, hands-on techniques, many of which can be traced to long-established traditions.

Complementary Health Practitioners work at verities of environments such as hospitals, clinics, mental institutes, rehabilitation facilities, NGOs, or other health related centers such as gym etc. They may practice in private or can align with other professionals from the field of health care.

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements to become Complementary Health Practitioners differ according the area of specialization. For instance, Chiropractors need to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, while Acupuncture Technicians have to complete a Master’s-level programs in acupuncture. On the other hand, Massage Therapists need to earn a two-year associate’s degrees in massage therapy or complete a training program on therapeutic massage techniques typically ranging from 500 to 800 hours after completing a high school diploma or GED.

The common syllabus includes anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, ethics etc.

Certification and Licensure

Complementary health practitioners need to earn typical state license in their chosen alternative medicine field. In case of certification, the Massage Therapists can obtain exam-based certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, while the Acupuncture Technicians can receive certification from the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA).

Skill Set

Complementary Health Practitioner possess various traits such as ability to read X-rays and diagnostic images, creative thinking, crisis management abilities, empathy towards clients, proficient in counseling, motivating skills, effective communications and interpersonal skills, computer skills, knowledge in stress management etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Complementary Health Practitioner remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities for Massage Therapists may rise 23 % and that of 28% for Chiropractors during 2012-2022.The average annual salary of a Chiropractor was of $66,160, while Massage Therapists earned $35,970 in 2012.