Dental Receptionist Duties

If you need to hire a good front desk person, there are some key qualities that you will want to look for. Your front desk receptionist is the personification and face of your practice and can have a huge effect on how your patients feel about going to you for treatment. While every office operates a little differently, there are some crucial duties that often fall under the umbrella of the front desk. Read on to learn about some of the most critical dental receptionist duties.

Basic Dental Receptionist Duties

Dental receptionists may have a wide range of tasks, including scheduling appointments, taking payment and billing information, answering phones, greeting customers, and confirming insurance information. Prior experience in the dental industry is a definite plus. Some other things that may make an application stand out include training in medical terminology, insurance practices, office administration, clerical work, business management, and/or customer service. Good candidates should also have the ability to multi-task and move between different duties without sacrificing precision or quality.

Clerical/Administrative Tasks

Computer proficiency is one of the most essential qualities to look for in receptionists. Dental receptionist duties may require multiple computer programs, including spreadsheets, word processors, email programs, billing software, and scheduling software. Specialized training is great, but at the very least, a receptionist should have solid knowledge of basic office software programs.

Greeting Customers

Few people actually enjoy visiting the dentist. A smiling, happy face that greets customers with courtesy, caring, and warmth will help soothe nervous patients and put them in a better mood. Compassion is also important. Many people put off going to the dentist for far longer than they should. Sometimes this may be a matter of money, but in many cases, patients are simply embarrassed or afraid. It is very, very important for dental receptionists to handle these sensitive cases without seeming judgmental or disapproving. One of the best dental office receptionist tips you can give is also the simplest: smile!

Answering Phones

Good phone etiquette is an absolute must! Answering phones are one of the top dental receptionist duties. Make sure your front desk person is a great communicator who can field tough questions. A 'smiling' voice, attention to detail, and the ability to remain polite and pleasant at all times—even when dealing with disgruntled patients—are very important.

Explaining Treatment

Dental receptionists often are the ones who discuss specific treatment plans with patients. They may also give after-care instructions and prescription information. Even a small misunderstanding in these areas can lead to major problems. Accuracy and clarity of communication are key here.

Collections

Another area that dental receptionists must also master is collections. Many difficult situations can arise in dentists' offices. For example, you may have patients who don't have the funds or means to pay for the treatment they just received. The ability to negotiate and collect such debts is, in many offices, one of the dental receptionist duties. 

Scheduling Appointments

Front desk receptionists often make, confirm, and reschedule appointments. They may also contact patients with reminders. A friendly manner, accuracy, and attention to detail are all important here. It's also important to have sympathy when people are scheduling emergency appointments. Dental problems can be extremely painful, so a good dental receptionist should be able to prioritize patients who need immediate attention. Here is one of the more crucial dental office receptionist tips we can offer: confirm information by reading back what was written down, using alphabetical instructions, such as M is for Mary.