17 Dental Administrative Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

Dental assistants are an important part of the dental team. They help keep the office running smoothly by performing a variety of tasks, such as scheduling appointments, billing patients, and ordering supplies. They also greet patients, take their medical history, and help them get ready for their appointment.

If you’re looking for a dental assistant job, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. Reviewing the most common dental assistant interview questions and answers can help you prepare for the meeting. In this guide, you’ll find questions about your experience, your knowledge of dental procedures, and your customer service skills.

Are you familiar with dental terminology?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience working in a dental office. They want to know that you can learn the terminology quickly and perform your job duties efficiently. In your answer, explain how you would approach learning new terms and what resources you might use to do so.

Example: “I am familiar with some of the basic medical terminology used in dentistry. I worked as an administrative assistant for a family doctor before coming here, and he had a glossary of common medical terms on his website. Whenever I didn’t understand something, I looked up the term in the glossary and learned more about it. If I still didn’t understand, I asked him or another member of the team.”

What are your strengths as a dental administrative assistant?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their team. When answering, think of a few strengths that relate to the job description or the skills you learned through your education program.

Example: “I am very organized, which is why I love working as a dental administrative assistant. I also have excellent communication skills, so I can easily relay information from one department to another. Another strength I have is my attention to detail, which helps me ensure all patient records are accurate.”

How would you describe your work ethic?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your work ethic and how you approach your job. They want to know that you are a hard worker who is willing to go above and beyond for the dental office. When answering, think of an example from your previous experience where you worked hard to complete a task or project.

Example: “I have always been someone who approaches my work with a positive attitude. I am motivated by challenges and enjoy working on projects that require me to use my problem-solving skills. In my last role as a dental administrative assistant, I was tasked with organizing all of our patient records. It took me several days to sort through everything, but I eventually got it done. The process was challenging, but I learned a lot in the process.”

What is your experience with dental software?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using dental software. If you have experience using specific software, share what you know about it and how comfortable you are using it. If you don’t have any experience with dental software, explain that you’re willing to learn new software if hired.

Example: “I’ve used several different types of dental software in my previous positions. I’m most familiar with Dentrix because I worked for a dentist who only used this software. However, I also understand how to use other popular systems like CompuDent and DentaQuest.”

Provide an example of when you solved a problem at work.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you approach challenges and solve problems. Your answer should highlight your problem-solving skills, ability to collaborate with others and willingness to take on new responsibilities.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that our dental office was running low on supplies. I spoke with my supervisor about it, and she asked me to order more supplies for the office. I researched several suppliers and found one that offered a discount if we ordered in bulk. My supervisor approved the purchase, and I placed an order for enough supplies to last us through the rest of the year. The company delivered the supplies within two weeks, which helped reduce costs for the practice.”

If a patient was unhappy with their treatment, how would you handle the situation?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and whether you have the skills to diffuse a situation. In your answer, try to show that you are empathetic and willing to do what it takes to make sure patients leave satisfied with their treatment.

Example: “If a patient was unhappy with their treatment, I would first listen to their concerns and ask them if there is anything else we could do to improve their experience. If they were still unsatisfied, I would find out more information about why they felt this way so I could relay it to my manager or dentist. I would also offer to reschedule the appointment at no cost to ensure they had an excellent experience.”

What would you do if you noticed a mistake on a patient’s invoice?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle errors and mistakes in your work. Showcase your ability to be detail-oriented, take responsibility for your actions and learn from your mistakes by giving an example of a time when you noticed a mistake on an invoice or other document and fixed it.

Example: “I once worked with a dentist who had me create his invoices every day. One day I noticed that he forgot to include one of his assistant’s names on the invoice. I immediately told him about the error and we both realized that she hadn’t been there that day. He gave her credit for the missed day and I made sure to double-check my work more thoroughly after that incident.”

How well do you communicate with patients?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you interact with patients and other staff members. Showcase your communication skills by explaining a time when you helped a patient or another person understand something more clearly.

Example: “I have experience working in customer service, so I know that it’s important to listen carefully to what people are saying. When someone is talking to me, I make sure to give them my full attention and ask questions if I don’t understand something. This helps me learn about their needs and find solutions for them. In my previous role, I had a patient who was nervous about getting dental work done. I listened to her concerns and explained our process thoroughly. She felt much better after our conversation and even came back to thank me later.”

Do you have experience working with insurance companies?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with insurance companies and how well you communicate with them. If you do not have experience, you can explain what steps you would take to learn about the process of working with an insurance company.

Example: “I’ve never worked directly with an insurance company, but I am familiar with the process. When I first started my administrative assistant position at Dr. Smith’s office, I helped him create a spreadsheet that he could use to track his patients’ insurance information. He also taught me how to enter the information into the system so it was easy for him to find when he needed it.”

When was the last time you updated patient records?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of dental administrative procedures. It can also show them how often you update records and whether or not you have experience with specific software programs. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific instance when you updated patient records in the past.

Example: “The last time I updated patient records was about six months ago. The dentist I worked for at the time had just purchased a new computer system that required us to enter all of our patients’ information into the database. This took me several weeks to complete, but once we finished entering all of the data, it made updating records much easier.”

We want to improve our communication with patients. Describe a strategy you would use to achieve this.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would use your communication skills to improve their office’s patient experience. Use examples from previous experiences where you helped a team communicate with patients more effectively and efficiently.

Example: “I have worked in several dental offices, and I’ve noticed that many of them struggle with communicating with patients about scheduling appointments or answering questions about insurance. In my last position, we implemented an online portal for patients to submit all of their questions so they could receive answers within 24 hours. We also created a calendar system for patients to book appointments online, which reduced phone calls by 50%.”

Describe your experience with scheduling appointments.

Scheduling appointments is a key responsibility of dental administrative assistants. Employers ask this question to learn about your experience with scheduling patients and how you prioritize your work. In your answer, describe the steps you take when scheduling appointments for doctors or dentists. Explain that you also schedule other types of appointments such as patient check-ins and financial consultations.

Example: “I have worked in two different dental offices where I scheduled appointments for both patients and doctors. When scheduling appointments, I first look at the doctor’s calendar to see which days they are available. Then, I create an appointment schedule based on their availability. For example, if a doctor has three hours open during the day, I will try to fill those slots with patients who need care. If there are any remaining slots, I will add them to the end of the day so the doctor can see more patients.”

What makes you stand out from other dental administrative assistants?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your skills and abilities. They want to know what makes you unique from other candidates. When answering this question, think of a skill or quality that you have that others may not. Try to choose something that is relevant to the job.

Example: “I am extremely organized and detail-oriented. I can keep track of many things at once and always make sure everything is in its place. In my last role, I was responsible for organizing patient files and making sure all documents were filed correctly. This helped me stay on top of my work and ensured that our office ran smoothly.”

Which dental administrative tasks are you most comfortable with?

This question helps employers determine which administrative tasks you are most comfortable with and how much experience you have in the field. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few of your favorite administrative tasks and why they’re enjoyable for you.

Example: “I’m most comfortable with scheduling appointments, filing paperwork and communicating with patients. I enjoy these tasks because I find them easy to do and I like helping others by providing information or making an appointment for them. These tasks also help me feel confident in my abilities as a dental administrative assistant.”

What do you think are the most important qualities for a successful dental administrative assistant?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their team. They want someone who is organized, detail-oriented and friendly. When answering this question, think of a few qualities that are important to you and explain why they’re important.

Example: “I believe the most important quality for a successful dental administrative assistant is organization. I am naturally very organized, so it comes quite easily to me. However, I also enjoy learning new organizational methods and tools to help me stay on top of my work. Another important quality is communication. As an administrative assistant, I need to be able to communicate effectively with dentists, hygienists and patients. I have always been good at communicating with others, which makes me feel confident in this role.”

How often do you communicate with your supervisor?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you interact with your supervisor and other administrative assistants. Your answer should show that you value communication and are willing to ask for help when needed.

Example: “I communicate with my supervisor at least once a week, usually in our weekly meetings. I also send her emails throughout the day if I have questions or need assistance. My previous supervisor was always available to answer my questions, so I learned to be patient and wait until she had time to respond. If I ever felt like an issue was urgent, I would call her immediately.”

There is a problem with a patient’s treatment. How do you handle it?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with patients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you handled a similar situation in the past.

Example: “In my previous role as a dental administrative assistant, I had a patient who was unhappy with their treatment because they felt like we were rushing them through their appointment. After speaking with the dentist about the issue, he decided that he would schedule another appointment for the patient so that they could have more time during their procedure. The patient was very happy with the extra attention they received from the dentist and his staff.”