Dental Office Assistant

The Dental Office Assistant course delivers all the latest information and skills practice you need to succeed in the paperless era: technology, forms, and equipment in use today; up-to-date coding information; HIPAA and OSHA guidelines; functions of the dental business office; communication and critical thinking exercises. An in-depth look into completing common tasks such as scheduling, bookkeeping, electronic record regulations and insurance coding is also provided. Our course also includes the companion workbook for the text: The Administrative Dental Assistant and the latest version of Dentrix Learning CD-ROM, which provides an interactive and realistic look at the dental office environment.

Prerequisite(s): None

Dental Office Assistant Module 1

Introduction to the Dental Profession

• Orientation to the Dental Profession
• Good Personality Traits
• Education
• Members of the Dental Healthcare Team
• HIPPA
• OSHA
• Professional Ethics
• Legal Standards
• Patients' Rights
• Professional Organizations
• Basic Dental Office Design
• Dental Anatomy
• Dental Numbering System
• Charting Methods
• Dental Procedures
• Chairside Dental-Assisting Duties
• Infection Control

Dental Office Assistant Module 2
Communication Skills in the Dental Office

• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Barriers to Effective Communication
• Improving Communication
• Telephone Techniques
• Written Correspondence
• Letter Writing Style
• Patient Relations
• Psychology and Positive Image
• Problem Solving
• Providing Outstanding Customer Service
• Dental Healthcare Team Communications
• Dental Practice Procedural Manual
• Organizational Conflicts
• Staff Meetings

Dental Office Assistant Module 3
Managing Dental Office Systems Part 1

• Computerized Dental Practice
• Selecting a Software Package
• Basic Operations of a Software Package
• Role of the Administrative Dental Assistant
• Daily Procedures with a Computerized System
• Patient Clinical Records
• Electronic Clinical Records
• Collecting Information
• Clinical Records Risk Management
• Information Management
• Filing Methods
• Filing Equipment and Supplies
• Preparing the Clinical Record
• Preparing Business Documents

Dental Office Assistant Module 4
Managing Dental Office Systems Part 2

• Dental Patient Scheduling
• Mechanics of Scheduling
• The Art of Scheduling
• Making Appointments
• Time-Saving Functions
• Recall Systems
• Classification of Recalls
• Methods for Recalling Patients
• Inventory Management
• Types of Supplies, Products, & Equipment
• Selecting and Ordering Supplies, Products, & Equipment
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Dental Office Equipment
• Electronic Business Equipment
• Telecommunications
• Intraoffice Communications
• Office Machines
• Business Office Environment

Dental Office Assistant Module 5
Financial Arrangements, Collection Procedures & Insurance

• Designing a Financial Policy
• Financial Policies
• Financial Policy Communications
• Managing Accounts Receivable
• Types of Dental Insurance
• Insurance Coding
• Organizing Insurance Coverage
• Types of Insurance Information Required
• Methods of Filing Insurance Claims
• Insurance Payments
• Insurance Tracking Systems
• Secondary Coverage
• Government Assistance
• Completing a Dental Claim Form
• Fraudulent Insurance Billing

Dental Office Assistant Module 6
Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable

• Bookkeeping Procedures
• Organizing an Accounts Payable System
• Verification of Expenditures
• Check Writing
• Reconciling a Bank Statement
• Payroll
• Payroll Services
• Financial Records Organization
• Billing
• Managing Patient Transactions
• Reports
• Employment Strategies
• Managing Your Career
• Future Career Opportunities
• Assessing Yourself and Your Career

**Outlines are subject to change, as courses and materials are updated.**