Dental receptionist training can be on-the-job or completed through a vocational school. Courses may include office administration, insurance billing, and clinical skills. Dental assistant training can also provide preparation for a receptionist career.
Receptionist training varies based on the type of preparation an employer requires or a receptionist decides to pursue. In some cases, dental receptionist training is provided entirely on the job and consists of basic training in office procedures and, in some cases, insurance billing or even dental care. It is also possible for someone to complete a receptionist training course at a vocational school. These courses may include formal training in office administration, insurance billing, and information on handling x-rays and medical records. Another path to becoming a receptionist or dental office manager is to complete a dental care course, which typically combines clinical training with office management skills.
An individual who is hired to be a dental receptionist without formal education will likely be trained by other office staff, a dental hygienist, or even the dentist himself. This training usually consists of the correct way to answer phones, transfer calls or receive messages if the caller is unable to use the voice email system. In small dental offices, the receptionist may be responsible for most office administrative tasks, including dealing with insurance companies and product vendors. He or she may also be trained to act as a dental assistant performing basic clinical tasks such as sterilizing instruments or assisting the dentist during procedures.
Those who receive dental receptionist training through a vocational school or community college complete the school’s curriculum, which varies based on the type of program students enroll in. If the emphasis of the program is on office skills, students are expected to complete a touch typing course, classes in word processing and spreadsheet management, and training in how to manage databases and files. Additionally, these programs may also require courses in dental terminology and clinical skills.
Dental assistant training can also provide adequate preparation for a career as a dental receptionist. These programs are also taught at vocational schools and community colleges, although they may place a greater emphasis on learning clinical skills, such as assisting dentists during procedures and providing basic dental services to patients. However, it is not uncommon for these programs to include a component that also teaches dental practice management skills. These programs may, however, be longer than programs designed specifically to prepare students for receptionist or office administrator careers.
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