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The above information illustrates just how vast the administrative roles can be. This is in large
part why many dental offices now call their front-end staff “administrators” rather than
“receptionists.” Dental Administrators and their role in business operations make them vital and
valuable members of the dental team.

THE DENTAL HEALTHCARE TEAM
The dental health care team refers to dentists, hygienists, assistants, administrators and other
supporting staff as a whole. In order to effectively work together as a team, all staff members
should have a clear understanding of the different roles within the dental health care team as well
as the importance each individual plays in the delivery of patient treatment and care.

General Dentist and Dental Specialist

A Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), or
general dentist as they are commonly called,
provides evaluation, diagnosis, prevention
and/or treatment of oral diseases, disorders
and/or conditions of the oral cavity,
maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and
associated structures and their impact on the
human body. A general dentist is competent
in a variety of areas of dentistry including
dental restorations, oral surgeries, therapies,
and tooth replacement prosthesis.
FIGURE 1.1 - DENTIST

A Dental Specialist is a general dentist who has obtained additional specialized training in one
area of dentistry. They require the same education and training as a general dentist, as well as
further education in their chosen area of expertise. In short, a dental specialist delivers treatment
in one particular area of dentistry, whereas a general dentist will deliver treatment in a variety of
areas of dentistry.

A general dentist who has obtained additional specialized training may decide to offer treatment
that only pertains to their field of expertise, or they may choose to offer both general as well as
specialized services. For example, a general dentist may obtain specialized training in
Orthodontics (braces) and choose to offer both general dentistry as well as Orthodontic
treatment to their patients. General dentists work in close collaboration with dental specialists by
referring to them patients who require treatment outside of their expertise.
As a Dental Administrator, you will deal directly with specialty practices in sending and
receiving the referral paperwork between the two offices.
Both the general dentist and the dental specialist are often the owner of their practice. They are
legally responsible for providing a high standard of care and ultimately make the final decisions
regarding overall business operations.

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