Dental Receptionist: Career Diploma Summary

About this article
A Dental Receptionist Diploma will give you the background you need to find employment as a dental receptionist in any size or type of dental practice. You will earn your diploma by studying courses such as dental terminology, tooth numbering, radiology, inventory control, and billing procedures. If this sounds like the career for you then read on!
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Why enroll in an Dental Receptionist Diploma program?

A receptionist in a dental office plays a very important role, as the receptionist is the first one to greet patients as well as being the one to schedule appointments, provide information, and process payment and insurance information.

Career possibilities

The dental field is one of the fastest-growing industries today, as an increasing and ever more health-conscious population requires more and more dental services, so your skills as a dental receptionist will be in demand anywhere you choose to go. You may also choose to use your knowledge of dental procedures to go on to pursue additional training as a dental hygienist.

Occupational Outlook

The number of dental receptionist openings is expected to grow more than 27% up until the year 2014, as reported in the 2006 Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.BlS.gov). With your training, you should have no trouble whatsoever landing a job as a dental receptionist wherever you live.

Salary Information

Dental receptionists earn an average of $13.62 an hour, according to the 2006 Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.BLS.gov). Most full-time dental receptionists also receive excellent benefits including paid vacation time, and 90% of dental practice employees (both part-and full-time) receive free dental coverage according to the American Dental Association (www.ADA.org).

Coursework requirements

  • Dental Office Procedure
  • Ethics
  • Dental Knowledge and Terminology
  • Office Administration
  • Tooth Numbering Systems
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Scheduling and Appointment Procedures
  • Communication/Telephone Skills
  • Inventory Control and Billing Procedures
  • Management of Insurance Plans and Claims
  • Accounts Receivable/Payable
  • Computer programs for the dental office

Skills you will learn

Upon completion of your diploma, you will be skilled in the following areas:

  • Dental education of the public
  • Insurance for dental patients
  • Accounts receivable/payable
  • Scheduling patients for appointments and treatment
  • Customer service
  • Dental terminology
  • Billing procedures
  • Communication skills
  • Telephone etiquette skills
  • Computer (programs for the dental office) skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Troubleshooting skills
  • First Aid skills

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BBA Medical Services Management
      • Health Services Administration - BS
    Associate's
      • AS - Medical Administrative Assistant
      • Medical Administrative Assistant - AAS
      • AS - Medical Reimbursement and Coding
      • Health Services Administration - AAS
      • Medical Reimbursement & Coding, AAS
    Certificate
      • Medical Office Assisting Diploma
      • Health Services Admin Diploma
      • Health Services Assistant - Diploma
      • Medical Billing and Coding Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Quantitative Leadership)
    Master's
      • MBA: Health Systems Management
      • Master of Science in Health Administration
      • Master of Science in Health Administration with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
      • M.S. in Health Informatics
    Bachelor's
      • BS in Health Care Administration
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Medical Transcriptionist
      • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding
  • Missoula, MT

    The University of Montana

  • Online Programs Available
    5. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: General
      • Doctor of Health Sciences: General
  • Western Governors University

  • Valdosta, GA

    Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

  • Online Programs Available
    8. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma

Featured Schools

Bryant & Stratton College

  • BBA Medical Services Management
  • AS - Medical Administrative Assistant
  • Medical Office Assisting Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?

Grand Canyon University

  • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Qualitative Research)
  • MBA: Health Systems Management
  • BS in Health Care Administration

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster

  • Career Diploma - Medical Transcriptionist
  • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: General
  • Doctor of Health Sciences: General

What is your highest level of education?

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?