Dental Practice Management Education and Training

Create a dental practice management education and training program to help your practice thrive
By Lea Terry, Freelance Journalist / Copywriter 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

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

• 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.