Week 1: Introduction to the Dental Office
Welcome to week 1 of ADMN1340! During the first half of this course (weeks 1-7) we will explore concepts specific to dental offices. The activities built into each week are meant to recap concepts learned through these chapters and during class. Although they will not be graded by your instructor, they are a great way to check in to see how you are grasping the content and to prepare for upcoming assessments.
MOP/HOA Employment Opportunities
There are several MOP/HOA employment opportunities and career advancements within the dental environment:
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- Financial Coordinator
- Appointment Coordinator
- Treatment Coordinator
- Dental Business Assistant
- Dental Receptionist
- Dental Office Manager
We will be getting to know each one of these roles in greater detail throughout the next 7 weeks.
Take a look at the average wage/salaries here: Comparing average dental wages
Dental Office Marketing Practices
Dental offices utilize unique marketing strategies to optimize their business. Remember that dental care (outside of emergency hospital treatment and some supplementary plans) is not covered by OHIP, and therefore these offices operate similarly to a business rather than a non-profit doctors office.
Some examples of dental marketing include:
- Relationship marketing e.g. thank you cards
- Internal Marketing e.g. process improvement
- External marketing e.g. advertisements
Question: How and why did you select the dental office that you last visited?
Perhaps through the recommendation of a friend or family member, the proximity to your home, the hours of operation and appointment availability, or the excellent customer service!
Dental Office Sterilization Techniques
Review the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) document below to identify the best practices for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization techniques used with dental offices in Canada.
Two common techniques:
Ultrasonic Cleaning: involves the use of high frequency ultrasound waves to cleanse instruments in water. A cleaning solution is often added to assist in removing all visible debris. Instruments are clean but not sterile.
Autoclave Device: uses high pressure steam to remove all bacteria, viruses, or fungi from dental instruments. Instruments would then be considered sterile and ready to be used on the next patient.
Watch this short video titled “Dental Sterilization: The Autoclave and Ultrasonic” to learn the difference between the two devices.
The Dental Team
| Team Member: | Education: | Scope of Practice: | Regulatory College: |
| Dentist (DDS – Doctor of Dental Surgery) | Must graduate from a dental postgraduate program and complete the National Dental Examining Board of Canada. May then choose to specialize by completing specialty training. | Evaluates, diagnoses, and treats diseases and disorders of the oral cavity. Legally responsible for the care of the client. | The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario |
| Registered Dental Hygienist | Must obtain a diploma in dental hygiene and complete the National Dental Hygiene Certification Exam. | Assesses periodontal health, performs prophylaxis, perform scaling, apply sealants or fluoride, processes radiographs, educates patients on dental hygiene. | College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario |
| Registered Dental Assistant Level 1 | Must obtain a certificate from a dental assisting program. | Referred to as “Chair-Side.” Exchanges instruments with dentist, mixes dental materials. | Ontario Dental Assistants Association |
| Registered Dental Assistant Level 2 | Must obtain a certificate from a dental assisting program. Must complete the National Dental Assisting Examination Board Exam. | Referred to as “Intra-oral.” Provides oral evacuation during procedures, takes impressions, applies topical sealants or anesthetics. | Ontario Dental Assistants Association |
Dental Specialists
In class, we reviewed the 9 different specialties that a dentist may pursue to treat specific conditions or support a particular population of clients. Complete the activity below to check your knowledge of the 9 different dental specialists:
References
Average dental receptionist hourly pay in Canada. (n.d.). PayScale. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Dental_Receptionist/Hourly_Rate
Baillargeon, S. (2008). Dental office administration. Thomson Nelson.
Public Health Ontario. (2019). IPAC checklist for dental practice – Reprocessing of dental/medical equipment/devices. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf
Tooth Talk. (2022, November 15). Dental sterilization: The autoclave and ultrasonic. [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7GGgDe2RBs&t=2s
