Dental offices can be fast-paced environments, as each patient is given a limited amount of time in the chair. Often, patients who have more complex procedures such as root canals or crowns have a little more time than those who just come in for regular cleanings. While this can be a challenging work environment for many new dental assistants, it can also provide opportunities to see more procedures and observe the expertise of other dental professionals.

In addition, dental clinics are usually located in larger health-related establishments such as hospitals or government offices. They may also be affiliated with a university and serve as a training site for dentists in training, or they may offer low-cost treatments to the public.

Dental Office Essentials: What Makes a Great Practice

While dental offices and clinics both offer treatments, the differences between them are significant. Dental offices focus on patient education, prevention and treatment for a range of dental conditions that can impact oral health. Dental Offices are privately owned and operated by dental professionals, or they may be owned by a healthcare organization or medical association.

Dental professionals have to be skilled in all areas of the practice to be successful. They have to master finance, embrace new technologies and build a team culture. Without strong business leadership skills, a dental professional can reach a plateau and lose their competitive edge. This is why many dental professionals choose to find work through DSOs that take on the responsibility of managing the day-to-day operations of a practice, leaving the dental professional free to focus on what they trained for.