What makes a good dental practice manager?

A dental practice manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a dental office. They are in charge of hiring and training staff, managing finances, and maintaining patient records. Without a reliable practice manager, сlinics cannot run smoothly.

If you are interested in pursuing this career, then have a read of our article detailing what a good dental practice manager should look like.

Duties of a dental practice manager

Managing patient communication

More than ever, communication is important in the dental industry. Dental practice managers must make sure that all communications with patients are handled in a timely manner. They must be able to respond to emails, phone calls, and other forms of communication in a way that is both efficient and сlear.

They are also the person that a patient will seek if they have any complaints or concerns, so they will need to be equipped to deal with such situations. Ensuring patients are as happy and comfortable as possible during their visit is a key part of a practice manager’s duties.

Budgeting

Setting up a new dental practice can be very expensive. There are also many hidden costs associated with running a dental practice, such as insurance and other business expenses. The success of the practice depends on how well they manage their finances.

This is yet another of the duties a dental practice manager would be in charge of. For example, they might be expected to manage the finances of the new equipment and marketing campaigns and decide where money should be spent to best benefit the practice.

Managing the staff

Dental practice managers must oversee the hiring, training, and development of all staff members. This means they will have to ensure good communication with all members of staff and keep them up to date with any news regarding the practice.

They are also responsible for managing the team, which includes assigning tasks to other administrative staff and providing motivation, which can be challenging – especially when staff is working long hours.

Qualities of a good dental practice manager

Professionalism

As with most jobs, it’s important that a dental practice manager has a certain level of professionalism. Since they will often have to be dealing with complaints and therefore disgruntled patients, the practice manager should be able to keep their cool in such situations and deal with them in a professional manner.

They are also expected to uphold a high standard of ethics as they will be handling confidential information such as patient records. They are also the ones in charge of making sure the dental practice is up to healthcare guidelines. This makes it especially important that are able to maintain a professional attitude at all times.

Organization

To be a dental practice manager requires great organization skills, as they are in charge of many of the administrative tasks that keep the office running smoothly.

Part of this is being able to prioritize which tasks should be handled first in order to maintain the operations of the office. They should then be able to delegate these tasks appropriately and efficiently.

Being able to do this means having good time management skills and being able to oversee a variety of tasks at a time.

Leadership

Dental practice managers must be able to lead their team, as well as keep them focused on the goals of the company. Many practice managers have their own teams, so they must have good communication skills with various individuals.

While leading their team, the practice manager must be confident in their abilities to lead and that they are capable of making the right decisions to ensure success.

It is also important to remember that in order to be a good leader, one must first know their team and where their strengths and weaknesses lie. For this to work, there needs to be good teamwork and working relationships in place so there is mutual trust and understanding between the staff.

How to become a dental practice manager

Get a degree in business or management

A degree in business or management is a great way to start your career as a dental practice manager. A Bachelor’s degree in business, management, or a related field will give you the skills to run a dental practice and make it grow. Many employers are often more likely to look favorably on your application if you have shown that you have pursued higher education in a related field.

Gain experience in the dental industry

You can also become a dental practice manager by having experience in the industry or through a specific area of expertise. Even those who have not studied to become a practice manager can get the opportunity to manage a practice by working as a dental assistant or in another dental position and climbing the ranks from there.

Conclusion: What makes a good dental practice manager?

Being a dental practice manager takes skill, dedication, and hard work. They must be able to handle the day-to-day operations of the practice while also maintaining a positive relationship with both the staff and the patients.

There are many qualities that make a good dental practice manager, but the three most important are organizational skills, communication skills, and leadership. If you have these qualities and are passionate about dentistry, then you have what it takes to be a successful dental practice manager.