Administrative Dental Assistant

As an Administrative Dental Assistant, you will perform as a professional dental staff member and work on behalf of the patient as well as the dentist. This exciting Administrative Dental Assistant Online course can help you gain entrance into the Dental Assistant career path. You will learn about patient care, as well as how to assist with administrative dental duties. Advance and discover career possibilities after acquiring the skills essential for an entry-level administrative dental...

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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

  • Foundational skills for dental office administration, such as communication
  • Basic industry knowledge, including dental terminology and diseases
  • Scheduling patients using common industry software
  • Obtaining health histories and maintaining patient records
  • Mastering recall systems
  • Bookkeeping and billing practices
  • Completing dental insurance claim forms
  • CDT (current dental terminology) coding

How you will benefit

  • Learn dental terminology that will allow you to efficiently communicate with patients and dental professionals
  • Understand how to use DENTRIX G4 software, which you can discuss in interviews and list on your resume
  • Earn an administrative dental assistant certificate of completion for the course, demonstrating your skills to potential employers

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 150 course hours
  1. The Dental Profession
    1. Orientation to the Dental Profession: Dental Basics
  2. Interpersonal and Communication Skills
    1. Communication Skills and Telephone Techniques
    2. Written Correspondence
    3. Patient Relations
    4. Dental Healthcare Team Communication
  3. Records Management
    1. Patient Clinical Records
    2. Information Management
  4. Scheduling and Recall Systems
    1. Dental Patient Scheduling
    2. Recall Systems
  5. Dental Insurance Processing
  6. Financial Management
    1. Financial Arrangements and Collection Procedures
    2. Bookkeeping Procedures: Accounts Receivable
    3. Bookkeeping Procedures: Accounts Payable
  7. Office Equipment and Inventory
    1. Inventory Management
    2. Office Equipment
    3. Computers in the Dental Office
  8. Employment Strategies

Cindy Lamkin

Cindy Lamkin has been employed in the dental field for over 20 years. She graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in dental hygiene and holds Registered Dental Assistant and Registered Dental Hygienist credentials. In addition to practicing clinical hygiene, she has also worked in dental office administration and treatment coordination. Her career includes general dentistry, as well as specialty practices of periodontics, endodontics, pedodontics, and orthodontics.

Prerequisites:

You should be proficient in keyboarding, have a basic understanding of a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word is recommended), and have a command of English grammar and punctuation. No dental office work experience is required.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course must be taken on a PC. Macs and Chromebooks are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 8 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
  • 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 eBooks will be provided to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • Administrative Dental Assistant
  • Student Workbook for the Administrative Dental Assistant

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.

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.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our 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.