Regardless of how many years of education and training a dental professional receives, the gap between that knowledge and those needed to build a successful practice is often wide. Dental Office management (also known as dental practice management or dental support services) is the set of practices and procedures that allows a dentist to turn an education in dentistry into a sustainable, profitable business.

Dental offices and dental clinics differ in many ways. A dental clinic usually consists of just a small room that houses all the necessary dental tools and equipment. Some dental clinics are located in large health-related establishments, such as hospitals and even government offices; some are located within dental schools where students practice under the guidance of instructors as part of their studies.

What to Expect at a Dental Office: A Complete Guide

A dental office, on the other hand, usually has a reception area that is equipped with chairs, televisions and reading materials to keep patients comfortable while waiting for their appointments. Dental offices also typically have storage areas that house patient records, some of which may be on paper, but most practitioners now use computerized records.

A dental office can also include several technologies for enhancing the patient experience, such as digital x-rays that help reduce radiation exposure and the need for multiple full-mouth sets of X-rays, or a panoramic machine that provides a single scan with 180-degree views of the entire mouth to aid in the diagnosis of tooth decay and other conditions. Lastly, the dental office can offer third-party interest-free financing to help patients afford their treatments.