Course Offerings

This 60-hour, six-week virtual workforce development course provides foundational training for individuals seeking administrative roles within a dental setting. You complete approximately 10 hours of instruction and coursework per week. The course introduces dental terminology and anatomy, CDT dental coding and claims, professional communication, dental office operations and ethics, financial and marketing management, insurance and reimbursement processes, and career preparation. You apply dental terminology to charting and recordkeeping; use the current CDT manual and CDT Companion to research codes; complete ADA Dental Claim Forms; practice patient and business communication; examine HIPAA, OSHA, ethics and office systems; and develop employment-readiness skills.

Course Objectives

Apply foundational dental terminology and anatomy concepts to identify primary and permanent dentition, tooth surfaces, charting terminology and dental healthcare team roles

Apply 2026 Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes to common dental procedures, treatment plans, insurance claims and clinical scenarios using the CDT manual and CDT Companion

Complete the ADA Dental Claim Form accurately and differentiate among common dental insurance types, reimbursement processes and basic financial management principles

Demonstrate professional verbal and written communication skills through telephone etiquette, patient intake, business correspondence, patient letters and explanations of dental office procedures

Apply principles of dental office operations, ethics, recordkeeping, business software, HIPAA and OSHA dental administrative scenarios

Explain fundamental dental marketing concepts and their relationship to patient engagement and practice growth and demonstrate career-readiness skills by developing a professional resume and applying effective interviewing techniques and business etiquette

Outline of Instruction

Dental Terminology, Tooth Anatomy, Dentition, Charting and Dental Team Roles

CDT Coding Fundamentals, Service Categories and 2026 CDT Code Changes

Dental Insurance, Claims Processing, ADA Dental Claim Form and Coding Scenarios

Professional Communication, Patient Intake, Business Correspondence, Ethics, HIPAA and OSHA

Dental Office Operations, Recordkeeping, Practice Software, Financial Management and Dental Marketing

Advanced Coding/Claims Practice, Career Preparation, Resume and Interview Skills, Review and Final Program Exam

Contact Hours

60

CEUs

No

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

N/A

Learning Supplies Needed

Current CDT manual, CDT Companion or equivalent coding reference; ADA Dental Claim Form practice materials; computer with reliable internet access, virtual meeting/LMS access and word-processing software; and instructor-provided course materials

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

Course is delivered virtually. Students need a computer or compatible device with reliable internet access and access to the course learning platform.

Requirements for Successful Completion

90% attendance
80% or higher overall grade

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

Dental administrative assistant, front office coordinator, dental receptionist, insurance coordinator, billing and coding specialist, scheduling coordinator, treatment coordinator and patient care coordinator

Intended Audience

Dental administrative assistant, front office coordinator, dental receptionist, insurance coordinator, billing and coding specialist, scheduling coordinator, treatment coordinator and patient care coordinator

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

Dental administrative assistant, front office coordinator, dental receptionist, insurance coordinator, billing and coding specialist, scheduling coordinator, treatment coordinator and patient care coordinator

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

Dental practices require trained administrative personnel who understand dental terminology, coding, claims processing, patient communication, office operations, insurance and financial procedures.

Dental practices throughout Wake County and the surrounding region employ administrative and front-office personnel to support scheduling, insurance verification, claims, billing, patient communication and practice operations.

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Related Courses

Course Contact Information

Allied Health Office https://cehealth.waketech.edu
919-747-0140
[email protected]