Most patients usually go to their dentist simply to see the dentist. But you need to know that a dental office has a lot more than just a single dental practitioner. There is usually a group of dedicated staff members who keep a dental practice operating. A good understanding of dental practice careers can empower you to find the right individuals who can deliver a great level of service.
Whether you intend to start a dental practice or want to expand, it’s a good idea to understand the various dental office positions. This article discusses the key employees you need in your dental office.
Dental office position
Outfitting your dental practice with the right team should be a matter of qualifications, passion for dentistry, and commitment to standards. There are some challenges associated with working in a dental office, so you need to find the people you can depend on.
The search for a skilled dental team needs to go beyond experience and certification. It’s crucial that you figure out who the potential employees are and what they like during the interview process. Some of the most important dental practice job titles include the following:
A dental assistant
Efficiency and quality control are the major focus of the dental assistant. A dental assistant needs to juggle clinical roles and some of the management tasks in the dental office. Remember that these are the responsibilities of employees who can support you when you conduct advanced treatments.
A dental assistant should be ready to handle scheduling appointments, keeping accurate records, greeting patients, and preparing dental tools. They can work with your primary dental team and help with specific procedures like taking X-rays.
You can have a new dental assistant to assist you to fill the gaps in your current team. It’s quite easy to qualify as a dental assistant, and most dental assistant programs usually last about one year. Before you decide to hire a dental assistant, make sure that they are certified. In most cases, a good dental assistant can keep your dental practice operating during busy times and may take the strain off your clinical staff members.
A dental hygienist
A dental hygienist usually shares most of the similar roles as a dental assistant. The major difference between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist is that a dental hygienist tends to focus more on the business’ clinical side. A hygienist can often do most of the clinical tasks which a dental assistant cannot. In most cases, they support patients by offering preventative dental care.
Besides, dental practices can sometimes exclusively use a dental hygienist to do basic dental examinations. This means that they can free up a dentist who can handle more in-depth work. You should note that some of the tasks a dental hygienist can do include monitoring oral care, conducting x-rays, and educating patients in proper oral hygiene.
A dental hygienist needs to have a bachelor’s degree to launch their career. Because a hygienist plays a huge role when it comes to primary dental care, they need to have great interpersonal skills as well as the ability to handle patient records properly.
A dentist
Many people get confused when it comes to what dentists are and the duties they are supposed to perform. A dentist also called a dental surgeon refers to a professional healthcare practitioner who has the experience and is trained to prevent oral disease to make sure that there are healthy teeth.
A dentist usually has an extensive educational background. A dentist needs to attend four years of college and another four extra years of dental school to obtain a dental office position title. They are highly skilled and trained in preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral diseases. Most dentists are often general dentists, but others opt to specialize in various areas.
Before you hire a dentist, you need to find someone who is the right fit for your dental practice. Also, you should know their specialties, their bedside manner, and assess your dental practice’s needs. This is the best way you can get a dentist that meets the needs of your dental practice.
Dental technician
A dental technician’s main role is to work in laboratories. They can create and repair most custom-made oral devices that patients wear like crowns, implants, dentures, and bridges. A technician needs to work closely with the entire clinical team so that they can understand the needs of a patient and create precision-engineered oral devices. Most dental practitioners often have state-of-the-art machinery that they use to provide better patient outcomes.
Good communication skills are important for any dental technician. Most dental practitioners tend to outsource this specialized job to third-party practices, particularly to those that specialize in general dentistry.
A dental office manager
A dental office manager coordinates the administrative work of a dental practice. They are usually the first individual a new patient can speak with. Also, they are expected to support patients by answering phones, taking payments, and keeping accurate records.
But an office manager doesn’t work only on the patient-facing side. In most cases, they also work as a human resource manager, handle staff complaints, conduct interviews, and control the payroll of the dental practice. A good dental office manager needs to have a high level of administrative and organization experience.
A dental receptionist
A dental receptionist is the first person a patient sees when they visit your dental practice. They are responsible for providing a positive first impression. Aside from this, they have to handle several administrative tasks like scheduling appointments, taking in-person payments, and answering any queries.
A good dental receptionist needs to have great interpersonal skills because their key responsibility is to make sure that the patient is ready to meet a dentist. Therefore, an organized and detail-oriented professional suits this role.
But unlike other dental office roles, a receptionist doesn’t need to have a specific qualification. Hence, it’s up to you to decide what you want in a potential receptionist. This is especially true as long as the receptionist can do the tasks and have a personable behavior.