42 Common Interview Questions For Dental Receptionists

Updated 30 September 2022

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Dental receptionists welcome patients at the dentist's office, schedule appointments, communicate with patients and assist in administrative tasks. For this, recruiters look for candidates who have the technical and soft skills required to do the job well. If you are interested in becoming a dental receptionist, learning about the different questions that interviewers may ask you can help you prepare well for your interviews. In this article, we list some commonly asked interview questions for dental receptionists, discuss why interviewers ask these questions and share sample answers to help you prepare for your interview.

General Interview Questions For Dental Receptionists

General interview questions for dental receptionists help hiring managers understand if you are the right candidate for their company. These questions analyse a candidate's values, strengths and goals and determine if they match the organisation's core values and objectives. Here are some general questions that interviewers may ask you:

Tell me about yourself.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Have you taken any steps to improve your weaknesses?
How did you know about this position?
What do you know about our company?
What are your goals for the next five years and how do you plan to achieve them?
What is your strongest skill that can help you in this job?
What makes you different from other candidates?
Describe your ideal work environment.
What are your interests outside work?
How can you contribute to the organisation's success?
What are your salary expectations?
Do you have any questions for us?
How do you stay motivated at your job?
Describe the biggest challenge you have faced in your career.

Interview Questions About Work Experience And Background

During an interview, recruiters try to understand if a candidate has relevant work experience and understands the challenges and requirements of the job well. For this, they may ask you questions about your work experience and educational background. Here are some questions that the interviewer may ask you:

Give me a brief description of your work experience.
What are your educational qualifications?
What were your major responsibilities at your previous job?
Why do you want to leave your current job?
Have you worked as a receptionist in a medical facility before?
Have you worked in customer-oriented roles before?
How many appointments can you make in an hour on average?
How do you organise your tasks at work?
Which tools have you used previously as a receptionist?
What is your typing speed?
Have you undergone any professional training in telephonic communications?

In-Depth Interview Questions For Dental Receptionist

Along with questions about your personality and work experience, interviewers may ask you subject-related questions to understand if you have the technical knowledge and skills for the job. For this, the interviewer may ask you questions about situation handling, telephone etiquette and technical aptitude. Here are some questions that the interviewer may ask you:

What are the steps that you follow while making appointments?
Which are the software tools that you used to manage customer records?
How familiar are you with medical terminologies?
How do you handle multiple tasks and responsibilities at once?
How do you keep yourself updated about medical guidelines while handling patients?
How do you coordinate with the dentist on your tasks?
What steps do you take to protect a patient's privacy?
Do you follow any steps while attending calls?
Explain some challenges that you faced as a receptionist?
Describe your daily routine as a dental receptionist?
What is the most challenging aspect of this job for you?

Dental Receptionist Interview Questions With Sample Answers

Here are some sample interview questions and answers that you can help you prepare for your interview:

1. How do you inform patients about cancelled appointments?

An interviewer may ask this question to test how well you know about appointment handling and customer support. You can talk about the steps that you usually follow when there may be cancelled appointments. You can also include the skills that are important for handling such situations. It helps the interviewer understand that you are capable of handling such adverse situations and can retain the patients even after cancellations.

Example: 'Often, when we inform patients about cancelled appointments, it may cause some negative reactions on their end as it disturbs their schedule. When such cancellations happen, I try my best to ensure I update the patient at least three to four hours or the day before the appointment. I also recommend a few other slots to them and encourage them to reschedule their appointment to the next available slot. While conveying such information, good communication and interpersonal skills play an important role.'

2. Do you enjoy working as a dental receptionist?

By asking this question, recruiters may try to understand if you like your job and determine if you are a motivated candidate. While answering this question, you can include what you like about the job. You can also tell the recruiter what generated your interest in this profession. It may also be a good idea to talk about the skills that make you a good candidate for the job and how you can apply them to your role.

Example: 'Yes, I enjoy working as a dental receptionist. In fact, I have been working as a receptionist in different types of medical organisations for the last six years. My strong communication skills help me do well at the job. I am also an extrovert person, which helps me interact with patients, offers high levels of customer service and makes them feel comfortable.'

3. What do you understand by good customer service?

This question helps interviewers gauge your understanding of customer service and identify the different measures you may take to ensure high levels of customer service for patients. You can talk about the steps you take when a patient visits the medical facility. You can also give an example from your experience about a time when you helped a customer feel welcomed and calm.

Example: 'According to me, good customer service can help a company build a loyal customer base. It is the responsibility of employees like me, in customer-facing roles, to ensure that we are able to address the needs of every customer. There have been several occasions when patients have been anxious while visiting the doctor. I generally offer them a soothing beverage, be kind to them and try to engage them in a conversation. I empathise with them, display compassion and give them assurance. As a dental receptionist, good customer service is one of the main responsibilities of my job.'

4. How do you handle high-pressure situations?

Interviewers may ask this question to understand how you handle challenging situations. They may also try to understand your definition of a high-pressure situation. In your answer, talk about your ways of handling stress. You can give an example from the past where you were able to handle a difficult situation by staying calm.

Example: 'As a medical receptionist, there may be high-pressure situations quite often. There may be emergencies, unhappy customers or a lot of tasks to be completed simultaneously. During such situations, the first step is to stay calm, understand the situation and identify possible solutions. When I am faced with high-pressure situations, I try to prioritise and come up with a solution proactively instead of being worried. At my previous job, my composure has helped me handle many medical emergencies with ease and ensure that the patient received the care they required.'

5. How do you handle angry or unhappy customers?

Your interviewer may ask you this question to determine if you have encountered an unhappy customer previously and understand your approach to handling them. You can talk about a time when you interacted with a customer who was not happy with your services and how you resolved the issue. In your answer, you can include the skills that can help you manage such customers effectively.

Example: 'Sometimes, patients may get angry if there is a delay in their appointment or their appointment gets cancelled. At such times, it is important to listen to the customer and assure them that we have heard their complaints. Once they have calmed down, it is important to solve their problem to ensure we are able to retain them. Sometimes, offering compensation to the customer to make up for the negative experience also helps calm the customer. Good communication skills, interpersonal skills and problem-solving abilities are important while interacting with customers on a daily basis.'