"I have a new career that I feel really positive about. I would definitely recommend CDI to other people looking to start a new career." - Sheryl F., CDI Graduate
Dental receptionist jobs are fast-paced and challenging. Employers demand professional dental staff to possess both general office skills and specialized dental knowledge, including knowledge specific to dental specialists such as orthodontists and oral surgeons.
CDI College's Dental Receptionist Coordinator program teaches students medical and dental fundamentals like anatomy, physiology, terminology and dental equipment. Students are introduced to office-standard programs like Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as dental office procedures. Students will get a chance to put those skills into practice as part of their 80 hour practicum in a real world dental office.
This program is 28 weeks in length.
Job Opportunities
- General Dentist's Office
- Endodontist's Office
- Periodontist's Office
- Orthodontist's Office
- Pedodontist's Office
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon's Office
- Receptionist for Dental Manufacturing Company
- Hospital Dental Departments
- Dental Laboratories
- Public Health Department
Dental Receptionist Coordinator
For programs offered in Alberta:
Calgary City Centre Calgary North Calgary South Edmonton City Centre Edmonton North Edmonton South Edmonton WestProgram Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia.
| Code | Course Name | Hours |
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- This course will introduce students to skills and concepts that will help them achieve personal, academic, and career success.
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- This course is a broad-based introduction to using a personal computer. It teaches the fundamentals of an operating system and the most popular application software including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. You will also learn about the Internet, Web browsers, electronic mail and antivirus software. The course is based on the Windows 7 operating system, Microsoft office 2010 and a variety of popular software programs for the Internet-related and security-related applications.
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- This course is the first of two courses covering Microsoft Word 2007. This level 1 course will present the MS Word application interface, tools and features. You will learn about the fundamentals of word processing, document, and paragraph and character formatting, working with templates, lists and tables. This course relies heavily on hands-on practical activities that allows you to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis.
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- This course explores the use of electronic spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel 2007. This course will present the MS Excel application interface, tools and features. You will learn about the fundamentals of spreadsheets, working with data, formatting cells, working with ranges of data and cells as well as applying functions and formulas to manipulate the data in the rows and columns of a spreadsheet. In addition, you will learn how to present tabular data in a variety of different chart formats. This course relies heavily on hands-on practical activities that allows you to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis.
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- This course gives the student an introduction to the fundamentals of keyboarding. This course will help the students reinforce their English language skills and develop their ability to key and compose information and develop the proper keyboarding techniques and skills. The gradual pace of this course will help the students develop both speed and accuracy while applying the proper keyboarding techniques and position. Students will also develop their proofreading techniques, and improve their word processing techniques in a windows environment.
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- Students are provided with an understanding of normal anatomy and physiology beginning with an introduction to the human body and its functions. Students will learn detailed anatomy of the head, neck, and will examine the normal development of the oral cavity and facial complex, teeth, and the attachment unit.
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- This course introduces students to dental transcription and document preparation. Students will learn various types of reports utilized in dental facilities and report templates will be introduced.
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- This component provides students with the knowledge and skills that are required to recognize and prevent medical and dental emergencies within the dental office. It will prepare students to assist the dentist in administering immediate care for the client in the dental office environment. Students also participate in CPR/First Aid training. Lectures, reading assignments and laboratory projects will provide a basic understanding of medical emergencies and the role of the dental assistant in assisting with the administration of care used in the dental office. This information permits the student to interpret and relay information and to communicate on the dentist, and emergency workers.
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- This module will introduce the student to the proper handling of hazardous chemicals, employee safety, and waste management. Emphasis is placed on the application of this knowledge to the practice of dental assisting through the use of case studies. This course will provide students with the prerequisite knowledge required to practice effective infection control procedures in the dental environment and to prevent cross-contamination. Lectures and reading assignments will provide a basic understanding of infection control used in the dental office and an overview of selected disinfectants and sterilizers used in the dental office. This information allows the student to understand the importance of infection control in clinical practice and to communicate on the importance with the client.
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- This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills related to dental reception procedures. Topics will include the organization and management of patient records, appointment control, dental claims, and financial procedures.
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- This course will teach students how to perform all tasks associated with office bookkeeping and payroll. This will include month-end, year-end and source deduction remittance. The course also covers bank reconciliation and ledger balancing for year-end functions. Other topics include marketing the dental practice, dental specialties, and special practices.
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- This course introduces students to dental software packages used in offices and facilities. This includes patient registration, booking appointments, patient billing, reconciliation, medical records and prescription preparation. This will also include all the reports required by an office to account for all aspects of bookkeeping in a computerized system.
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- This course prepares the students to take and process intra-oral and extra-oral dental radiographs according to Safety Code 30 standards. The students are introduced to basic physics and principles of radiography, safety precautions and the operation of the dental x-ray unit. Instruction will be provided on exposing dental radiographs using paralleling and bisecting angle techniques, recognizing dental radiographic errors and solving problems, client education and management. This course covers the theoretical aspect of radiography, preliminary interpretation of radiographs, as well as the hazards and safety of radiation. Emphasis is placed on safe and effective use of x-rays in dental practice. Throughout the course and program, learning activities are provided to integrate theoretical information. Upon completion, the student gains insight into dental radiography and will be able get them ready to apply the knowledge into practical knowledge.
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- This course prepares the students to take and process intra-oral and extra-oral dental radiographs according to Safety Code 30 standards. The students are introduced to safety precautions and the operation of the dental x-ray unit. Students will expose dental radiographs using bisecting angle and paralleling techniques. The purpose of this course is to help the student develop an understanding of the basic principles of clinical dental radiography. Current radiographic techniques will be covered with the emphasis being on safe and effective use of x-rays in the dental practice. Emphasis is placed on safe and effective use of x-rays in dental practice, application of this knowledge to the practice of dental assisting through the use of case studies and practical applications of x-rays Throughout the course and program, learning activities are provided to integrate theoretical information and clinical practice. Upon completion, the student gains insight into radiography and integrates this knowledge with other dental topics.
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- This course looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview.
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- This course is designed to equip students with interpersonal skills identified by employers as essential for success in the professional world. Using a variety of instructional methods including case studies, group exercises and discussion, students learn and practice key communication skills.
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- This program includes a practicum component consisting of 80 hours of work at a job site. This practicum work experience is a mandatory diploma requirement and the organization does not pay for the services of the student during the practicum.