Tag Archives: Dentists

Becoming a Dental Practice Administrator

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Dental Practice Administrators play a key role in managing administrative tasks to provide qualitative and organized patient care services in various dental care settings. They are not directly involved in treating patients. Their responsibilities include maintaining a safe environment; building cordial relationships with the dentists and other staff members; developing the office budget to achieve profitability; motivating staff members and proactively seeking ways to improve the dental practice; and more importantly, assuring that patient’s needs are addressed in a caring, timely and thorough manner. In addition, they schedule patient appointments and assist in insurance claims.

Dental Practice Administrators work in varieties of environments such as public or private hospitals, group medical practices, dentist’s office, dental care facilities, insurance companies etc. They mostly work full time. They may be required to be available on-phone even in the weekends.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Practice Administrator, the aspiring candidates have to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree in health administration or in a related field. The students can go for master’s degree in related field for better job opportunities in this field. These professions may also obtain practical experiences on-the-job training.

The common syllabus includes dental office procedures, human resources administration, dental insurance, quantitative reasoning, fiscal management, accounting, budgeting, computer applications etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since the position of a Dental Practice Administrator requires to be licensed in most of the states, the aspiring candidates need to earn exam-based license. . These professionals can obtain exam-based certification, administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Skill Set               

Dental Practice Administrators possess various traits such as customer service skills, critical thinking ability, time management skills, ability to perform multi-task activities, excellent administrative abilities, effective communication and interpersonal skills, willing to work as a part of team, ability to establish and maintain cordial relationship with staff members, familiarity with medical billing practices, understanding of insurance procedures, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Practice 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 23% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Practice Administrator was $90,940 in May 2013.

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 Dental Hygienist

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Dental Hygienists provide educational, clinical, medical, research, administrative and therapeutic services on oral healthcare. They diagnose the patients’ oral tissues and overall health to determine the disease or other issues such as risk factors and offer preventive services. They also educate the patients on oral hygiene and preventive oral care. They generally work under the supervision of licensed Dentists. The Dental Hygienists get employment at dental clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.

Education Requirements:

  1. Earn an Undergraduate Degree: Dental Hygienists usually hold an Associate’s Degree. The two-year Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene programs can be availed at community colleges, vocational institutes or dental schools. The major courses in this degree program include oral pathology, dental science, radiology, pain management, periodontics, community dental health and pharmacology.
  2. Licensing: All states in the United States require Dental Hygienists to hold licenses. The Associate’s Degree, school transcripts and/or letters of recommendation are needed to qualify to sit in the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, conducted by the American Dental Association (ADA), which has the final authority to grant the license.
  3. Career Advancement: A higher degree in Bachelor’s or Master’s will help the Dental Hygienists get further growth in their career. That might assist them go beyond the dental office and get a job in research and teaching.

Salary & Job Outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a Dental Hygienist was $71,110 per year in 2013. The job outlook remains bright for this profession, as it is projected to grow at 33% during the period 2012-22.