If you want to learn how to manage a dental practice, you have several options, from academic degrees to one-on-one coaching to self-study programs. There are dental practice management solutions for nearly every aspect of running a practice, including staffing, marketing, reimbursement and accounting.

Dental practice management services may be handled by either the dentist or by an office manager, and there are dental practice management programs designed for both. Dental practice management education and training options include:

1. Receiving formal academic instruction in dental practice management
2. Hiring a dental management training company
3. Taking online dental management courses or other self-study programs

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Receive formal academic instruction in dental management

Whether you're a dentist looking to strengthen your management skills, or you're a professional interested in overseeing a dental practice, there are academic programs that you can prepare you for a management career. Dental management degrees are usually offered as a two-year associates degree program, or as a certificate program of one year or less.

I recommend: The Pride Institute offers a management program for dentists that covers leadership management, systems, teamwork and communication skills. You can search for more education programs at Education Portal.

Consult dental management training companies for personalized coaching

Dental practice management companies can provide consulting and coaching designed specifically for your practice. Dental practice management firms can advise you on how to start a new practice or take over an existing one, and can help you learn basic management skills in addition to communications and team-building skills.

I recommend: Pacific Management Consultants offer dental practice management training, and the Coaching Center offers Dental Boot Kamp, a personalized coaching program.

Learn at your own pace with dental practice management software or online courses

Maybe you can't take time away from your practice to learn management skills. If so, you can opt for online or other computer-based training.

I recommend: The American Dental Association offers education and training on dental practice management topics, and The Wealthy Dentist offers dental practice management and consulting through computer-based training programs.

Supplement your dental practice management education by reading industry magazines

Formal training programs are important, but keeping up with the latest industry news and trends is an integral part of management education. Dental practice management publications can help you learn about and implement the latest trends and practices in the industry.

I recommend: Consider Dental Economics, a practice management magazine for dentists, or The Observer, which is published by the American Association of Dental Office Managers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When evaluating dental practice management programs, consider not only what works best for you, but what will be a good fit for the rest of your staff. If you choose a versatile training program, you can strengthen not only your own skills, but also create a management team to help run your practice and help it thrive.

Tap dental practice management programs to advance your management abilities. Opportunities to carry you forward come in many forms including dental practice management solutions to staffing, reimbursement and marketing challenges. Industry leaders know how to manage a dental practice through resources designed by dental management training companies.

Whether your needs include dental practice management software or other resources, find assets to advance your management proficiency developed by companies that support dental practice management firms. Look for products and services that not only appeal to bosses but also to employees. Enhance your management expertise by acting upon the following recommendations.

1. Collaborate with executive coaches or consultants to move your dental practice forward with personalized support.

2. Invest in administrative resources to get progressive assets that make dental practice management groups like yours exceptional.

3. Examine your strengths and weaknesses to determine what works or what needs improving at your dental practice management firm.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Design your management skills around core values to bolster your dental practice management group

Embrace your personal values and take your dental practice to the next level. Determine the road your business travels and visualize essentials needed for the journey. Use personalized coaching to align desired management techniques with your personal strengths.

I recommend: Explore coaching offered by Dr. Ron, the Dental Coach. Sign up for a free session to determine if personalized coaching works for you. Contact Jameson Dental Coaching to get comprehensive coaching to enhance the skills of your entire staff.

Monitor coding requirements and staffing to strengthen your dental practice management abilities

Submit proper coding for faster reimbursements. Hire model employees who value your leadership style and teamwork.

I recommend: Check out dental coding details at the American Dental Association. See the left side of the screen and click the first item under Browse ADA Catalog entitled, “CDT…, New Edition.” Dental practice management companies that understand coding terminology receive reimbursements quicker. Additionally, address staffing needs including interviewing tips at McKenzie Management. Learn how to employ superior staff, get suggestions for writing job descriptions and read about ways to review references with their products.

Find ways to market yourself and make money by investing in a dental management training company

Assess pros and cons related to your company's ability to generate profit and gain new patients.

I recommend: Examine your firm's advantages and disadvantages with the strengths and weaknesses assessment from Pacific Management Consultants. Scroll down and order services to uncover hidden challenges such as regaining lost revenue. Market yourself online with dental specific websites at Tyson Steele Dental Practice Management. Use these templates to promote your company's unique products and services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Align your personal vocation with the mission of your business as a first step when determining how to manage a dental practice.

Dental practice management is a complex task encompassing various issues, including dental insurance, coding and billing, team building and training, dental marketing, patient education and management of finances. The dental practice manager has a challenging job,and needs to juggle several responsibilities at one time. In addition, the manager must keep current on key terms that pertain to a typical dental practice. If you're managing a dental practice, here are few terms to keep in mind.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Dental insurance

Dental insurance offers patients an option for reducing the costs associated with dental care. Patients pay a premium to a particular insurance agency and in exchange, the insurance agency covers some or all of incurred dental expenses. Some patients obtain insurance through their employer, while others seek out insurance independently.

I recommend: The Dental Insurance Helper provides detailed information about various types of dental insurance plans.

Dental marketing

Keen marketing strategies are essential to maintaining a healthy dental practice. Successful dental marketing incorporates good strategic and tactical marketing strategies. Specifically, strategic dental marketing pertains to the type of message you want to send to prospective patients. Targeted marketing refers to how you send the message to patients. Marketing for your practice may include mass mailers, referrals from current patients, brochures and website presence. Often, the best marketing strategy is to pay special attention to patients who have access to a large population of prospective patients.

I recommend: Learn about how dental marketing companies can help you at Avandant Dental Marketing Strategies.

Dental coding

Dental codes allow your practice to accurately record and report the dental treatments administered to patients. The Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature provides the framework from which dental coders can record and report dental procedures.

I recommend: Find more information about dental coding, including training opportunities, at American Dental Coders Association.

Dental coaching

Dental coaching can enhance the overall functionality of your dental practice. Dental practice managers and dentists use dental coaches to help them create and refine a vision for the practice. In addition, dental coaches work to guide you through various issues, including leadership style, team building and motivation, relationship building with patients, accountability, ethics and integrity and image building. Dental coaching also guides you through the process of establishing a financial picture of what you want your practice to do in the future.

I recommend: Jameson offers a wide variety of services to assist with dental practice management, including dental coaching. Dr. Ron, the Dental Coach focuses his business on dental coaching, also known as dental consulting.

Dental practice management software

Dental practice management software helps consolidate the operations of your practice in an electronic format. Software features can include an appointment book, electronic insurance claim filing, patient statements, report writer, clinical charting, treatment planning, prescription writing and coding. Use of such software streamlines paperwork and increases the efficiency of your practice.

I recommend: DentiMax offers three separate software packages, which vary depending on the needs of your practice. You can download a demo from the website.

Dental team

The life of a dental practice is dependent on the entire dental team. Practice managers know how to assemble a good dental team, which consists of various professionals, including the dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, office manager and other office personnel.

I recommend: The California Dental Association provides descriptions of job functions for each member of the dental team.