Administrative Dental Assistant
Become a Dental Administrative Assistant
Administrative Dental Assistants support patients and staff members in dental offices and clinics. Their work blends patient care with administrative duties to help make dental care as comfortable and smooth as possible. This 100% online course prepares you with the knowledge and skill to enter the dental assisting field as an entry-level Administrative Dental Assistant.
Job Outlook for Administrative Dental Assistant
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects job demand for dental assistants to grow by 7% between now and 2029. That is faster than the anticipated growth rate for all jobs.
The BLS states that dental assistants make $19.27 per hour or $40,080 per year, on average. According to PayScale.com, top Administrative Dental Assistants earn $20.41 per hour, plus bonuses.
"My facilitator was extremely helpful. I learned a lot and it was a whole lot more fun than I expected it to be,"
-A.K., Cal State San Marcos
Course Objectives
- 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.
Prerequisites and Requirements
No dental office work experience is required.
Enroll now!
Curriculum
I: THE DENTAL PROFESSION
- Orientation to the Dental Profession: Dental Basics
II. INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- Communication Skills and Telephone Techniques
- Written Correspondence
- Patient Relations
- Dental Healthcare Team Communication
III. RECORDS MANAGEMENT
- Patient Clinical Records
- Information Management
IV. SCHEDULING AND RECALL SYSTEMS
- Dental Patient Scheduling
- Recall Systems
V. DENTAL INSURANCE PROCESSING
VI. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Financial Arrangements and Collection Procedures
- Bookkeeping Procedures: Accounts Receivable
- Bookkeeping Procedures: Accounts Payable
VII. OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND INVENTORY
- Inventory Management
- Office Equipment
- Computers in the Dental Office
VIII. EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES
Instructors
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.
Administrative Dental Assistant FAQs
WHAT DOES AN ADMINISTRATIVE DENTAL ASSISTANT DO?
Administrative Dental Assistants work directly with patients and dental care teams in a dental office or
clinical setting. They help organize and manage the office procedures, take patient histories, stock
supplies and instruments and communicate with patients and their families. They may schedule
appointments, handle billing and coding and manage insurance reimbursement claims.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ADMINISTRATIVE DENTAL ASSISTANT AND A CLINICAL DENTAL ASSISTANT?
While Administrative Dental Assistants focus on the office environment and equipment, Clinical Dental
Assistants may work with dentists and dental hygienists with actual dental procedures.
ARE ADMINISTRATIVE DENTAL ASSISTANTS LICENSED?
Most Administrative Dental Assistant jobs require a high school diploma but not a degree. However,
requirements can vary by employer and by state. Please check with your state to learn its requirements
for Administrative Dental Assistants.