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Dental Receptionist - Career Profile |
Career OverviewDental receptionists generally hold full-time positions at dental practices. They typically work under the direct supervision of the director of the dental practice and they carry out standard office functions for the most part.
Most dental receptionists are primarily responsible for answering phones and referring callers as appropriate. They are also responsible for scheduling, processing, and following-up appointments. It is a dental receptionist’s responsibility, according to the protocol of most practices, to follow-up with patients who miss their scheduled appointments, for example.
Specific to the work of a dental receptionist, as opposed to a general receptionist, are a number of tasks that involve interaction with patients, processing medical data, and maintaining dental supplies.
Most practices require receptionists to have a ready and working knowledge of dental terminology and basic procedures so that they are competent at assisting patients to register, complete dental history forms, and financial forms; and so that they can undertake to maintain dental supplies and manage accounting processes, including billing and purchasing.
Dental receptionists are responsible for greeting patients and helping to make them comfortable in the waiting area. They also facilitate a positive patient experience by assisting the dentist; the receptionist is generally responsible for locating the relevant patient information to prepare the daily schedule for dental staff.
They may also file data from secondary sources and provide information to other dental care organizations as required and as is acceptable within the standard protocol for the practice and for general dental record release policies.
Whilst dental receptionists do not require advanced knowledge or skill, they are still important members of the dental care team. Their work directly impacts patient experience and can make all the difference to ensure a positive experience.
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Career RequirementsDental receptionists are generally required to have a high school diploma or an equivalent GED. Experience working as a receptionist or working with people in some capacity, such as in customer services, is also extremely desirable and useful training for a career as a dental receptionist, which requires considerable daily interaction with both patients and staff at the dental practice.
Good written and verbal communication skills are a requirement of the job, as is basic mathematical competency. An interest and background in science, even if demonstrated at the high school level only, is also favored.
Most administrative tasks of the dental office are now performed on computers. Patient information is generally stored on computer hard drivers rather than on paper; appointments and daily schedules are made up using various forms of computer software. Receptionists must be computer literate and they are often required to have at least average keyboard skills.
Some on-the-job training is generally required for dental receptionists to help them familiarize themselves to a new environment; no generic job training programs currently offer to train dental receptionists.
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Job OutlookDentists are looking to assign routine tasks to qualified professionals. As they are looking to assign routine dental procedures to qualified dental assistants or dental hygienists, they are also looking to assign accounting tasks, patient follow-ups, and other administrative and office duties to qualified receptionists or office assistants.
Dental receptionists can find employment that is steady and full-time employment at private and agency-run dental offices. They may also find part-time positions. Most positions, whether full- or part-time demand flexible schedules, including some availability to work on weekends and evenings.
Job growth for dental receptionists will probably be average over the next ten-year period, with the position becoming increasingly to the day-to-day and long-term running of the dental practice.
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Career TrackWorking as a dental receptionist lends itself well to a career as a dental or medical receptionist, which is a relatively specialist profession. On the other hand, no specific career track is offered.
A dental receptionist might amass sufficient experience in dentistry that they would become desirable candidates for training as a dental assistant, nurse, or hygienists; such cases depend upon the inclinations of the candidates.
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CompensationThe average salary for a full-time dental receptionist working in a private dental office is about $25,000. The hourly rate of pay is generally between $10 and $20 an hour. Some positions include benefits such as dental and medical insurance, paid vacations and sick leave.
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