How Do You Become a Dental Office Manager?

It’s no surprise that dental office management appeals to many dental professionals. Dental office managers are often viewed as one of the leaders in the practice. They oversee the day-to-day operations of the dental office so that dentists can concentrate on patient care. Managers’ wide-ranging duties may include supervising staff, maintaining appointment schedules, coordinating patient treatment and managing finances.

As such, dental office management job titles vary. For example, managers’ titles may include office manager, patient coordinator, business manager, practice administrator, or insurance and finance coordinator. As you can see, for dental office managers, the possibilities are endless!

Salary is always a hot topic, and many prospective dental office managers are interested to know about the typical wages for this role.

According to PayScale, as of March 2018, dental office managers in the United States typically earn between $34,253 and $63,398. Similarly, in 2018, DentalPost reported that the average salary for office managers was nearly $50,000 per year.

Of course, different surveys report different salaries. Like dental assistant salaries, for dental office managers, practice type, size and location and years of experience as a dental office manager will also impact salary levels. Therefore, you may want to consult a variety of sources to get the most accurate picture of what to expect.

How can you become a dental office manager? Read on to learn more!

Learn on the Job

Ask dental office managers about their career paths, and you’ll likely hear a variety of responses. Some dental office managers began their careers working as a chairside dental assistant; others started working at the dental office front desk.

Some dental office managers may have a degree in business or administration, but many are trained on the job. If you would like to test out whether dental office management is right for you, consider asking your current employer if you can become cross-trained.

This approach will not only help you learn about dental office management, but it also will help you be able to contribute more to the dental office by stepping in wherever you are needed most.

Enroll in eLearning Courses for Dental Office Management

Typically, dental office managers have a variety of educational backgrounds. Some dental office managers have bachelor’s or associate degrees or some other type of formal education. But there are a variety of other educational opportunities available outside of a college or university setting.

For example, we here at Next Good Thing Academy, offer online courses in a variety of office management-related topics. You can take these courses online at your convenience, on any device. What’s more? Our lessons are created by professionals with over 10 years of experience in consulting for practices of all sizes. This means you’ll be learning the proper skills and put in realistic scenarios to give you a leg up when it comes to finding a role in dental office management.

View our courses online or contact us for more information. One of our experts will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your career!