Vocabulary Words Every Dental Administrative Assistant Should Know

Dentist

Definition: A doctor who specializes in the care of teeth and gums.

• I have an appointment with the dentist tomorrow.
• She visits the dentist for check-ups every six months.
• Understanding the role of a dentist is important for oral health.

Dentist in a sentence

Patient

Definition: Able to wait without getting angry.

• She is very patient with her students.
• It's important to be patient when learning.
• He waited patiently for his turn.

Patient in a sentence

Teeth

Definition: the hard structures in the mouth used for biting and chewing

• She brushed her teeth every morning and night.
• The dentist checked my teeth for cavities.
• He lost a tooth and put it under his pillow.

Teeth in a sentence

Clean

Definition: To make something free of dirt or mess.

• I need to clean my room before my friends come.
• She will clean the dishes after dinner.
• We should clean up the classroom together.

Clean in a sentence

Brush

Definition: A tool with bristles used for painting or cleaning.

• She used a brush to paint the picture.
• Don't forget to brush your teeth twice a day.
• He bought a new brush for his art supplies.

Brush in a sentence

Floss

Definition: A thin thread used to clean between teeth.

• You should floss daily for better dental health.
• He uses mint-flavored floss after brushing.
• Floss can help remove food stuck between teeth.

Floss in a sentence

Smile

Definition: A facial expression showing happiness, made by curving the lips.

• Her smile brightened the room.
• He loves to smile at everyone he meets.
• A smile can make someone's day better.

Smile in a sentence

Appointment

Definition: A scheduled meeting or arrangement.

• I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon.
• She made an appointment to see the dentist.
• His appointment was confirmed by email.

Appointment in a sentence

Office

Definition: A place where people work, often in an administrative capacity.

• She works in an office downtown.
• They have a meeting in the office tomorrow.
• His office is very organized and tidy.

Office in a sentence

Chair

Definition: A piece of furniture for sitting.

• I need a chair to study at my desk.
• She bought a new chair for her room.
• He sat on the chair during the meeting.

Chair in a sentence

X-ray

Definition: an imaging technique that uses radiation to see inside the body

• The doctor ordered an x-ray to check for fractures.
• He was nervous about getting an x-ray.
• Understanding x-rays is important for medical diagnoses.

X-ray in a sentence

Cavity

Definition: a hole or space within something

• The dentist found a cavity in his tooth.
• She filled the cavity with a special material.
• The cavity in the wall was caused by water damage.

Cavity in a sentence

Pain

Definition: An unpleasant feeling often caused by injury or illness.

• He felt pain in his leg after the fall.
• She took medicine to relieve the pain.
• The pain in her stomach made her uncomfortable.

Pain in a sentence

Gum

Definition: A chewy substance used for freshening breath or as candy.

• He likes to chew gum during class.
• She bought a pack of gum from the store.
• The gum lost its flavor quickly.

Gum in a sentence

Fill

Definition: To make something full.

• Please fill the glass with water.
• He wanted to fill the bucket with sand.
• She will fill the form later.

Fill in a sentence

Check-up

Definition: A medical examination to assess health.

• He scheduled a check-up with his doctor.
• Regular check-ups are important for staying healthy.
• She always goes for a check-up once a year.

Treatment

Definition: The way of dealing with a patient or condition; care given to someone.

• He received treatment for his illness.
• The treatment helped her recover quickly.
• They discussed treatment options with the doctor.

Treatment in a sentence

Healthy

Definition: Beneficial to health; not harmful.

• Eating vegetables is a healthy choice.
• It's important to stay active and healthy.
• She follows a healthy diet every day.

Healthy in a sentence

Doctor

Definition: A person who is trained to treat medical conditions.

• The doctor helps people stay healthy.
• I went to the doctor for a check-up.
• She wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

Doctor in a sentence

Care

Definition: To look after someone or something; to be concerned about.

• I care about my family and friends.
• Please take care of your pets.
• The doctor will care for the patients.

Care in a sentence

Dental

Definition: Relating to teeth or dentistry.

• He has a dental appointment to get his teeth checked.
• Dental health is important for overall well-being.
• She learned about dental procedures in her class.

Dental in a sentence

Assistant

Definition: A person who helps or assists in a specific task or role.

• The waiter was a helpful assistant during dinner.
• She worked as an assistant to the school principal.
• His assistant organized his schedule for the week.

Assistant in a sentence

Cleaning

Definition: The act of removing dirt, dust, or unwanted items from a place.

• She is cleaning her room to prepare for guests.
• Cleaning the house takes some time every week.
• Understanding cleaning techniques can help maintain a tidy space.

Cleaning in a sentence

Insurance

Definition: A contract that provides protection against financial loss.

• Car insurance helps pay for damages in an accident.
• I have health insurance to cover doctor visits.
• You should get insurance for valuable items.

Insurance in a sentence

Chart

Definition: A visual representation of data or information.

• We used a chart to show our progress.
• The chart displays the results of the survey.
• Can you read this chart for me?

Chart in a sentence

Gums

Definition: The soft tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth.

• Healthy gums are important for dental health.
• She noticed her gums were swollen.
• He visited the dentist to check his gums.

Schedule

Definition: A plan that shows when tasks or events will happen.

• I have a busy schedule this week.
• She made a schedule for her study time.
• They checked the schedule for movie times.

Schedule in a sentence

Follow-up

Definition: an action that comes after an initial action; checking on something

• She scheduled a follow-up appointment with the doctor.
• The teacher did a follow-up on the students’ progress.
• A follow-up email can help clarify any questions.

Procedure

Definition: a series of steps to accomplish a task

• Follow the procedure to complete the assignment.
• The procedure for the experiment was explained.
• He learned the procedure for making cookies.

Procedure in a sentence

Health

Definition: The state of being free from illness or injury.

• Eating fruits and vegetables is good for your health.
• Regular exercise helps improve your health.
• We should take care of our mental health as well.

Health in a sentence

Hygiene

Definition: The practice of keeping clean to maintain health.

• Good hygiene is important for staying healthy.
• He learned about personal hygiene in health class.
• She practices hygiene by washing her hands regularly.

Hygiene in a sentence

Records

Definition: Documents or pieces of information that are kept for reference or evidence.

• The school keeps records of all student grades.
• She checked the records for attendance.
• Understanding records is important for organization.

Billing

Definition: the process of sending bills for payments

• They handle the billing for the company.
• She checked her billing statement for errors.
• Billing can be done online for convenience.

Billing in a sentence

Referral

Definition: the act of directing someone to a different person or place

• She received a referral to a specialist for her condition.
• The doctor made a referral for further testing.
• He appreciated the referral to the best dentist in town.

Referral in a sentence

Consent

Definition: Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.

• You need to get parental consent for the field trip.
• He gave his consent to share the information.
• Understanding consent is important in many situations.

Consent in a sentence

Extraction

Definition: The process of removing something from a source, often used in contexts like data or resources.

• The extraction of minerals from the earth can be harmful.
• She learned about the extraction of DNA in science class.
• Extraction methods vary depending on the material.

Extraction in a sentence

Filling

Definition: The material used to fill a space, such as in a pastry or a tooth.

• The pie had a delicious apple filling.
• She chose chocolate filling for her cake.
• Filling can enhance the flavor of many dishes.

Filling in a sentence

Orthodontics

Definition: the branch of dentistry focused on correcting teeth

• Orthodontics helps align teeth for better function.
• She is training in orthodontics to become a specialist.
• Understanding orthodontics can improve oral health.

Orthodontics in a sentence

Diagnosis

Definition: The identification of a disease or problem based on symptoms.

• The doctor made a diagnosis after the exam.
• She received a diagnosis of a mild illness.
• He explained the diagnosis to the patient.

Diagnosis in a sentence

Examination

Definition: a detailed inspection or test

• The examination covered all the material we studied.
• She was nervous about her final examination.
• He passed the examination with flying colors.

Examination in a sentence

Staff

Definition: a group of people employed to work for an organization

• The staff at the school are very helpful.
• She joined the staff as a teacher this year.
• The staff meeting is scheduled for Friday.

Staff in a sentence

Charting

Definition: The process of creating charts to display information visually.

• Charting data helps us understand trends.
• She is charting the results of the experiment.
• They spent the afternoon charting their progress.

Charting in a sentence

Consultation

Definition: A meeting to discuss or seek advice on a topic.

• She had a consultation with a doctor.
• The consultation helped clarify their options.
• They scheduled a consultation for the project.

Consultation in a sentence

Anesthesia

Definition: A medical treatment that prevents pain during surgery; a state of controlled unconsciousness.

• The doctor explained the anesthesia process before surgery.
• He felt no pain because of the anesthesia.
• Anesthesia is crucial for many medical procedures.

Anesthesia in a sentence

Scheduling

Definition: The process of planning and organizing events, tasks, or activities.

• Scheduling classes helps students manage their time.
• He uses a planner for effective scheduling.
• Understanding scheduling improves organization skills.

Scheduling in a sentence

Receptionist

Definition: A person who greets visitors and handles inquiries at a front desk.

• The receptionist answered the phone politely.
• She works as a receptionist at a busy office.
• The receptionist helped me find the right room.

Receptionist in a sentence

Compliance

Definition: Following rules or standards.

• The company is in compliance with safety regulations.
• They ensured compliance with the new laws.
• She checked for compliance with the guidelines.

Compliance in a sentence

Documentation

Definition: The act of providing written evidence or records; materials that provide information.

• Proper documentation is important for legal processes.
• She prepared the documentation for the project.
• The documentation helped clarify the procedures.

Documentation in a sentence

Terminology

Definition: The special words or expressions used in a particular profession or field.

• Medical terminology can be complex and difficult to understand.
• She learned the terminology for her science class.
• Understanding terminology is essential for clear communication.

Terminology in a sentence

Confidentiality

Definition: The state of keeping information secret or private.

• The company values the confidentiality of its clients.
• She signed an agreement to ensure confidentiality.
• Maintaining confidentiality is important in counseling.

Confidentiality in a sentence

Radiology

Definition: The branch of medicine that uses imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases.

• Radiology helps doctors see inside the body.
• She is training in radiology to become a technician.
• Understanding radiology is important in healthcare.

Radiology in a sentence

Reimbursement

Definition: The act of paying back money spent.

• He received reimbursement for his work expenses.
• The reimbursement process can take a few days.
• Understanding reimbursement policies is important.

Reimbursement in a sentence

Coordination

Definition: The organization of different elements to work together effectively.

• Good coordination is necessary for a successful event.
• They practiced for weeks to ensure coordination during the performance.
• Coordination among team members improves results.

Coordination in a sentence

Administration

Definition: The process of managing or running an organization; also refers to the group of people responsible.

• The school administration announced a new policy.
• She works in the hospital administration department.
• Effective administration is key to a successful project.

Administration in a sentence

Verification

Definition: The process of confirming that something is true or accurate.

• The verification of the report took several days.
• He needed verification of his identity to access the account.
• They conducted a verification of the data collected.

Verification in a sentence

Assessment

Definition: An evaluation or test to measure knowledge or skills.

• The teacher gave an assessment to check our progress.
• We will have a math assessment next week.
• Assessments help identify areas to improve.

Assessment in a sentence

Evaluation

Definition: The process of assessing or judging something.

• The teacher will conduct an evaluation of the project.
• She received an evaluation on her performance.
• An evaluation helps improve future work.

Evaluation in a sentence

Communication

Definition: The process of sharing information between people.

• Good communication is key to teamwork.
• We use different methods of communication, like texting.
• Effective communication helps prevent misunderstandings.

Communication in a sentence

Software

Definition: A collection of programs and applications that run on computers and devices.

• She installed new software on her laptop.
• Understanding software is important for tech support.
• The software helps users manage their tasks efficiently.

Software in a sentence

Protocol

Definition: A set of rules or procedures to be followed in certain situations.

• The protocol for the experiment was carefully followed.
• They established a protocol for handling emergencies.
• Understanding the protocol is important for safety.

Protocol in a sentence

Inventory

Definition: A list of items in stock or available.

• The store keeps an inventory of all products.
• We need to check the inventory before ordering more.
• His job is to manage the inventory of supplies.

Inventory in a sentence

Workflow

Definition: The sequence of processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.

• Understanding workflow helps improve productivity.
• She designed a new workflow for the project team.
• Effective workflow management can streamline operations.

Workflow in a sentence

Regulations

Definition: Rules or laws made by governments or organizations.

• There are strict regulations regarding safety in the workplace.
• He follows all regulations for driving.
• Understanding regulations is essential for compliance.

Eligibility

Definition: The quality of being qualified or suitable for something.

• Her eligibility for the scholarship was confirmed.
• They checked the eligibility criteria for the competition.
• Understanding eligibility helps in applying for programs.

Eligibility in a sentence

Management

Definition: The process of dealing with or controlling things or people.

• Good management is key to a successful project.
• She works in management at a large company.
• Effective management helps teams achieve their goals.

Management in a sentence

Practitioner

Definition: a person actively engaged in a profession

• A medical practitioner must keep up with new research.
• She is a practitioner of holistic medicine.
• Understanding the role of practitioners is important in healthcare.

Practitioner in a sentence

Procedures

Definition: Established methods or steps for doing something.

• The procedures for the experiment were written down.
• Please follow the safety procedures carefully.
• They reviewed the procedures before starting the project.

Referrals

Definition: plural of referral; recommendations to others

• The company relies on referrals for new clients.
• He received several referrals from satisfied customers.
• They track referrals to evaluate their marketing efforts.

Utilization

Definition: The act of using something effectively or efficiently.

• Utilization of resources is important for success.
• The team focused on the utilization of their skills.
• She studied utilization rates in her economics class.