Administrative Dental Assistant

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of dental assistants is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2033. With over 54,000 openings for dental assistants projected each year, on average during this time, now is a great time to explore online dental assistant training.

Launch your dental career with our comprehensive Administrative Dental Assistant course! As a professional dental staff member, you will learn to advocate for patients while...

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6 Months / 150 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
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Administrative Dental Assistant

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Course code: GES101

What you will learn

  • Describe the administrative dental assistant’s role, and responsibilities
  • Identify dental anatomy and terminology needed to succeed in the business of dentistry
  • Recognize the importance of effective written and verbal communication skills in dental practice
  • Define the importance of both manual and computerized records management in dentistry, including HIPAA, informed consent, and risk management
  • Apply effective communication skills over the phone by understanding telephone screening and triage protocols and mastering the steps of scheduling new and existing patient appointments
  • Describe how to file dental insurance claims to receive maximum benefits in the shortest amount of time for patients and the dental practice
  • Apply accurate bookkeeping procedures for the dental practice and collection techniques to keep accounts current while maintaining good patient relationships
  • Analyze the steps it takes to find employment in a dental practice, including identifying the potential employer, preparing a cover letter and résumé, and perfecting face-to-face interview skills

How you will benefit

  • Gain marketable skills required for employment within a dental practice
  • Understand how to communicate professionally in a dental setting with both members of the dental team and patients
  • Acquire the know-how to create professional emails and letters
  • Receive specialized training for productive patient scheduling using a variety of scenarios based on common scheduling challenges
  • Become ready to file insurance claims using treatment Current Dental Terminology

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 150 course hours
  1. Your Administrative Dental Assistant Career
  2. Dental Basics
  3. Dental Practice Communications
  4. Records Management
  5. Scheduling and Recall Systems
  6. Dental Insurance and CDT Coding
  7. Managing Dental Practice Finances
  8. Managing your Career
  9. Get Career Ready

Priscilla Garcia

Priscilla Garcia, RDA, CPP, is a dental professional with over 20 years of industry experience. She began her career in dentistry as a chair-side dental assistant in 2002. Her work has included working chair-side and in an administrative capacity in general and specialty practices.

Priscilla has a wealth of knowledge and expertise, which she leveraged to begin teaching dental assisting part-time at Collin College in 2016. She transitioned to program managing and teaching dental assisting full-time with Collin College in 2017.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to complete this course.

Requirements: 

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
  • As part of the course there is an optional download of Dentrix Learning Edition software, but this only runs on Windows 10 now. But this is totally optional and not required, especially since Windows 10 is not common anymore. Dentrix software is still covered in the course and downloading the learning edition of the software is not required.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 10 or later operating systems.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
  • Microsoft Word or Microsoft Word Online
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • The Administrative Dental Assistant, 6th Edition
  • Elsevier: Evolve Resources for The Administrative Dental Assistant (digital access only; instructions provided along with the above textbook)
  • CDT 2025 Coding Companion: Training Guide for the Dental Team

Additionally, this course will provide you with DENTRIX® software that consists of sample practice opportunities. You can use this software to engage in activities and tasks that you would perform in an actual practice and use it to demonstrate your skills.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for dental assistants is $46,540.

An administrative dental assistant traditionally works in a dental office supporting dental hygienists and dentists. They provide support in a fast-paced environment for the day-to-day operations of a dental practice's front office, including anything from scheduling appointments and working closely with patients and other office staff to billing patients and insurance and overseeing bookkeeping. Additional duties might involve performing procedural and diagnostic coding, organizing patient files, or monitoring inventory.

As an administrative dental assistant, you will focus on providing quality care through numerous office, laboratory, and patient care duties, such as greeting patients, organizing office records, and other clerical tasks. On the other hand, a clinical dental assistant will help dentists and dental hygienists get patients ready for treatment by sterilizing and organizing dental equipment and supplies. They also document patient care, take x-rays, complete intake paperwork and update patient records, and in some cases, assist with certain procedures depending on state regulations.

The average salary of a dental assistant will vary based on experience and location, among other things. Nationwide, dental assistants earn a median salary of $41,180, while the highest 10% earn close to $60,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The position typically includes great benefits like healthcare and paid time off. In addition, according to the BLS, one in three dental assistants works only part-time, making this an ideal career for those who need a flexible schedule.

Dental receptionists and administrative assistants will typically need a high school diploma or GED. Most employers don't require a college education. Instead, they'll look for demonstrable skills like word processing, verbal communication, and familiarity with industry software and best practices. While there are dental assistant certifications available, you can prove you have these skills with this online administrative dental assistant course. You'll receive a certificate at the end of the course, and you'll be able to put all your new skills on your resume.

Administrative dental assistants provide support for the day-to-day operations of a dental practice, from scheduling appointments and organizing patient files to billing and bookkeeping. You'll work in a fast-paced environment as part of a team that includes dental hygienists and dentists. As the point of contact for patients and your team, you'll find dental administration is a rewarding and fulfilling career.

No. 

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six (6) months to complete the course.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.