Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for DA 150 Winter 2025


Course Number:
DA 150
Course Title:
Dental Practice Management
Credit Hours:
1
Lecture Hours:
10
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Provides an overview of procedures associated with reception desk responsibilities and dental office management. Prerequisites: Acceptance in the Dental Assisting program.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Use desktop computers and software to carry out basic dental front office practice management procedures such as scheduling appointments, performing patient recall, creation of treatment plans, etc.

  2. Apply skills to perform the duties of a dental administrative assistant while functioning as a member of a dental office team.

  3. Describe and discuss the purposes and advantages of supply inventory and patient recall systems in dental office settings.

  4. Demonstrate communication skills and knowledge of office management in the cooperative education setting.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

  • Classroom discussions

  • Course assignments

  • Quizzes

  • Final exam

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills:

  • The business of dentistry

  • Management techniques

  • The dental assistant as office manager

  • The well-equipped dental office: computer, phones, and fax

  • Office design

  • Common types of office correspondence

  • Third party reimbursement and billing procedure

  • Maintaining and storing medical/dental records

  • Appointment management systems

  • Bookkeeping and accounts receivable

  • Maintaining personnel records

  • Supply inventory systems

  • Patient recall systems

  • Communications skills

  • Use of the computer in the dental office

Related Instruction

Computation
Hours: 10

  • Use desktop computers and software to carry out basic dental front office practice management procedures.
  • Apply knowledge, skills, and qualities to perform the duties of a dental administrative assistant while functioning as a member of a dental office team.

  • Complete business and financial aspects of a dental office using a dental financial database.
  • Practice third party reimbursements.

Communication
Hours: 9

  • Use desktop computers and software to carry out basic dental front office practice management procedures.
  • Apply knowledge, skills, and qualities to perform the duties of a dental administrative assistant while functioning as a member of a dental office team.

  • Learn and practice scheduling and treatment planning
  • Review websites specific to dental office practices and participate in peer to peer discussion using dental terminology
  • Initiate resume, cover letter writing preparations for spring term

Human Relations
Hours: 4

  • Use desktop computers and software to carry out basic dental front office practice management procedures.
  • Apply knowledge, skills, and qualities to perform the duties of a dental administrative assistant while functioning as a member of a dental office team.

Activities:

  • Small group collaborative computer activities that encourage active listening and inquiry skills
  • Study and discuss Patients' Rights and responsibilities in regard to dental treatment
  • Explore management styles of both corporate and private offices in order to gain understanding of human dynamics with a variety of dental practices