Dentistry Management: How to Run a Successful Dental Practice
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Learn MoreTo patients, they go to the dentist for one reason: to see the dentist. But a dental office is so much more than just one practitioner. It takes a group of dedicated employees to keep a practice running.
A firm understanding of dental office job titles will empower you to hire the right people to deliver an exceptional level of service. If you’re learning how to start a dental practice or need to expand, here’s what you need to know about the various dental office positions.
Outfitting your practice with a unified team is not just a matter of qualifications, but a passion for dentistry and an unwavering commitment to standards. Working in a dentist office can present unique challenges, and you need people you can rely on.
Your search for a skilled team must go beyond certificates and experience. It’s important that you get a sense of who they are and what they’re passionate about during the interview process. Asking candidates, “Why do you want to work in a dental office?” is a crucial interview question that can help you determine what that person can bring to your practice.
In this section, we will break down the most important dental job titles, common responsibilities you should include in your dental office job descriptions, and what to look for in each candidate.
Dental hygienists share many of the same roles as the assistant. The difference between this dentist role and an assistant is they focus more on the clinical side of the business. Hygienists can typically perform many of the clinical tasks assistants cannot. They focus on supporting patients by providing preventative dental care.
In many cases, practices will exclusively use hygienists to conduct basic dental examinations, thus freeing up dentists for more in-depth work. Some of the procedures a hygienist might carry out include conducting x-rays, monitoring oral care, and educating patients in oral hygiene
Dental hygienists need a bachelor’s degree to embark upon this career. Since hygienists play such a large role in primary care, a good hygienist should have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage patient records keenly.
Dental technicians primarily work within laboratories. They create and repair the many custom-made oral devices patients wear, such as implants, crowns, bridges, and dentures.
Technicians must work closely with the rest of the clinical team to understand the patient’s needs and produce precision-engineered oral devices. These practitioners operate state-of-the-art machinery to deliver better patient outcomes.
When hiring a dental technician, good communication is essential, as are the technical skills required to operate complex machinery. Many practices prefer to outsource this specialized work to third-party practices, especially practices that specialize in general dentistry.
Receptionists are the first faces patients see when they walk into your practice. First impressions are everything, and the receptionist in your practice is responsible for crafting a positive first impression. Receptionists are responsible for handling various administrative tasks, such as taking in-person payments, scheduling appointments, and answering any queries.
They must have excellent interpersonal skills, as one of their primary responsibilities is to get the patient ready to meet their dentist. Detail-oriented and organized professionals suit this role best.
Unlike other dental office positions, receptionists need no specific qualifications — it’s up to you what you look for in a receptionist. As long as they can do the job and have a personable demeanor, they are ready to become a receptionist.
Your practice’s success relies on your team. If you want to achieve an efficient practice that delivers great patient care, you need the staff and the system to manage them.
Cloud 9 is the ultimate cloud-based specialty dental practice management software, from taking care of your staff’s needs to patient scheduling and flow. Spend less time on bureaucracy and more time serving your local community with the platform that’s changing practice management.
To find out more about Cloud 9 and why thousands of practices have already integrated it into their businesses, request a free demo now.