Dental Receptionist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Overview

• Core Objective: To provide an exceptional patient experience while keeping the clinic's daily schedule running smoothly and profitably.
• Reports To: Lead Dentist

Core Responsibilities:

1. Patient Experience & Check-In

• Greeting patients warmly as they arrive and ensuring a welcoming environment.
• Assisting new patients with digital or paper intake forms, medical histories, and privacy notices.
• Answering multi-line phone calls to book appointments, answer basic dental questions, or route calls to clinical staff.

2. Scheduling & Calendar Management

• Optimizing the practice management software (e.g., Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental) to maximize the dentists' and hygienists' time.
• Managing cancellations and actively pulling from a standby list to fill last-minute openings.
• Sending out automated or manual appointment reminders (texts, emails, calls).

3. Insurance & Financial Administration

• Verifying patients' dental insurance benefits before their appointments.
• Submitting pre-authorizations and insurance claims to providers.
• Calculating and collecting patient co-pays, deductibles, or outstanding balances at the time of check-out.
• Setting up patient payment plans or processing third-party financing (like CareCredit).

4. Office Logistics

• Maintaining a clean, organized, and inviting front desk and reception area.
• Managing patient records securely in full compliance with healthcare privacy laws (HIPAA).
• Sorting mail, handling office emails, and tracking inventory for front-office supplies.

Job Requirements & Skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent (GED). An Associate’s degree or administrative certificate is a plus.

Experience

1–2 years of medical or dental front office experience is preferred, though retail/hospitality customer service backgrounds often translate well.

Software Skills

Familiarity with dental software (Softdent (a plus) and basic Microsoft Office/Google Workspace tools.

Key Soft Skills

High emotional intelligence, active listening, strong multi-tasking abilities, and a calm demeanor under pressure.