Dentists and dental hygienists care for the oral health of their patients.
The front dental office is the administrative and business center of a dental office. Depending on the size of the practice and the number of employees, dental care activities range from scheduling appointments to processing claims. Employees of a dental office are typically administrative staff, although some may have additional training or certification in insurance claims processing or dental office management. In small practices, a dentist may rely on a hygienist or dental assistant to handle some of the administrative work.
Patients can schedule their next regular appointment at a dental office.
Dentists and dental hygienists care for the oral health of their patients. Although much of its activity takes place in the back room and in rooms intended for the private treatment of patients, the dental practice is also a business. The care team typically manages much of the dental business, although in some cases a dentist may also outsource some aspects of management, such as insurance claim processing or transcription preparation, to outside vendors.
Patient appointments are scheduled at the front desk of the dental office.
The dental care team is often the first point of contact for new and returning dental patients. Generally, patients must first contact the receptionist or office manager to schedule an appointment. New patients may be asked to submit insurance information at the time of scheduling an appointment so an insurance specialist can verify coverage. Once the patient arrives at the office, they will likely be checked in by dental office staff. The office staff will also maintain the patient waiting area.
Office receptionists need good communication skills to answer patient questions over the phone.
Many dentists still receive payments directly from clients for services, so at least one staff member may be responsible for maintaining financial records and billing clients. This activity can be combined with the responsibility of managing insurance matters, although this is not the case in all dental offices. In large practices, the service team may be actively involved in generating new business for the practice through various marketing efforts, including direct mail promotions.
Other functions of the service team may be interacting with vendors and suppliers. For example, a front desk manager may be asked to be the contact person for owners and maintenance workers. He or she may also be responsible for purchasing office supplies, including dental equipment. The care team may be responsible for completing, maintaining, and transferring patient files and records. If the dentist accepts insurance, someone in the dental office will usually be responsible for processing insurance claims and educating patients about insurance benefits.