Nationwide there are many variations in state rules and requirements. It is in your best interest to do research when beginning your career as an orthodontic assistant or when evaluating training options for your team members. You may contact your state Dental Board or Orthodontic Society. Another excellent resource for learning about rules and regulations in your area is the Dental Assisting National Board website which can be found at www.danb.org
Yes! Users who successfully complete a Trapezio Academy program after May 1, 2016, will earn Continuing Education (CE) credits awarded by AGD PACE. The following CE credits are awarded:
- Academy of Orthodontic Assisting Level 1 – 8 CEs
- Academy of Orthodontic Assisting Level 2 – 8 CEs
- Academy of OrthoCommon Knowledge – 6 CEs
- Academy of OSHA Safety – 6 CEs
- Academy of Insurance Coordinators – 4 CEs
- Academy of Treatment Coordinators – 8 CEs
- Academy of Office Managers – 8CEs
- Academy of Financial Coordinators – 8 CEs
- Academy of Customer Service – 4 CEs
- Academy of Front Desk Coordinators- 6 CEs
Trapezio is not authorized to offer CE credits for completion of the Academy of QuickBooks Ortho because it is product-specific training.
Please note that CE credits can only be awarded for completion of an entire Academy program and not for individual lessons.
Actual completion time varies greatly from user to user, but based on user feedback we can provide the following estimates for each of the Academy programs:
- Academy of Orthodontic Assisting Level 1 – 45-60 hours for new team members, 25-30 hours for experienced clinical staff
- Academy of Orthodontic Assisting Level 2 – 25-30 hours
- Academy of OrthoCommon Knowledge – 10-15 hours
- Academy of OSHA Safety – 6 hours
- Academy of Insurance Coordinators – 5-10 hours
- Academy of Treatment Coordinators – 20-25 hours
- Academy of Financial Coordinators – 20-25 hours
- Academy of Customer Service – 4-6 hours
These estimates include time to view the course material, study, and complete testing.
All of our Academies are written by experts in their fields with many years of industry experience. Our foundation program, the Academy of Orthodontic Assisting Level 1, was written by a practicing orthodontist and educates clinical assistants on the science of orthodontics in addition to techniques. It also teaches team members correct and scientific terminology, leading to improved inter-office communication. Having a set training protocol in place drastically reduces the amount of time the doctor has to dedicate to team training. Additionally, the knowledge and credentials that team members earn from completion of the Academy course will lead to increased confidence and will ultimately improve the patient-care that you provide. All of our other Academy programs strive to meet the same standard of training and education as our foundation program.
No. Our system was designed with the objective of being an asset to a busy practice, not a burden. You are able to access the program the same day as registration. Once logged into the system, the doctor or a designated course administrator will set-up user accounts for each staff member who will be accessing the programs. Assistants may go through the program on their own time, during designated office time, or on training days as a group. There is no longer a need to sacrifice the doctor or senior staff member’s time when integrating new team members into the practice.
If an employee of your practice has been assigned a course license and leaves the practice before completing the course his/her license can be reassigned only if he/she has completed 4 or fewer tests. If 5 or more tests have been taken, a new license will need to be purchased.
Yes. Individual licenses are assigned to each user so that he/she can access course material and take tests. Sharing log in information in prohibited as outlined in our Terms of Use.
A certificate of completion is available for all courses and any user who completes the program with an overall test average of at least 75%. Once all tests are completed and a passing score is achieved a “Print” button will appear on your Profile page next to the completed course. Course Administrators can also print certificates for team members by visiting each users Profile page under the Administration tab.
After the Academy of Orthodontic Assisting Level 1 program has been completed with an overall average of at least 75%, you will be able to print your certificate of completion through the website (see above). Along with your certificate, a form will print that includes information necessary to be awarded the credential AOAC or Academy of Orthodontic Assisting Certified. You must Successful complete the Level 1 online course AND have 6 months of employment in an orthodontic office.
Licenses are good for 1 year from the date of purchase.
Trapezio can reset test scores, however, the doctor or Admin’s permission will be needed for this request. We reserve the right to refuse any test reset.
Yes, all of our programs offer audio.
Yes, Trapezio courses are tablet-friendly.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of oral and dental anatomy.
- Know the language of orthodontics and be able to confidently speak utilizing clinical terminology.
- Be able to communicate with patients and parents and explain treatment procedures and goals.
- Develop a thorough comprehension of the steps involved in common orthodontic procedures.
- Understand the various stages of orthodontic treatment, beginning with records and continuing through retention.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of specialized topics within the orthodontic industry.
- Understand the biological process that takes place to allow tooth movement.
- Learn how to analyze, track, and prevent repairs and realize the impact this has on the practice and the patient.
- Identifying the assistant’s role within soft tissue laser procedures and TAD placement.
- Understanding risk management for the orthodontic practice and how this can affect the practice.
- Develop a basic understanding of oral and dental anatomy.
- Know the language of orthodontics and be able to confidently speak utilizing clinical terminology.
- Be able to communicate with patients and parents and explain treatment procedures and goals.
- Understand the various stages of orthodontic treatment, beginning with records and continuing through retention.
- Be able to identify OSHA regulations and standards that apply to dentistry.
- Be able to successfully describe an exposure control plan.
- Understand the Hazard Communication Standard as it applies to an orthodontic practice.
- Be able to identify and manage record keeping requirements.
- Be able to successfully conduct an office OSHA inspection.
Treatment Coordinators-
- Be able to define the TC position and understand the main roles of a TC.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the entire new patient process, from the new patient phone call, the consultation, and fee presentation.
- Understanding the different aspects of same-day starts and the benefits.
- Implementing a successful observation and recall program.
Insurance Coordinators-
- The pros and cons of different kinds of insurance coverage and how to work with companies providing them.
- Defining CDT codes typically used in an orthodontic office and when to use them.
- How to submit accurate insurance claims to maximize reimbursement and minimize clerical time.
- Monitoring insurance claims for timely payment and proper accounting in the patient’s insurance ledger.
- How to deal with the pesky nuances of orthodontic insurance, such as duplicate benefits and divorce cases.
Financial Coordinators-
- Understand the impact of financial policies and how they affect the practice.
- Understanding who is the responsible party and how to determine this.
- How to handle late fees, utilizing and communicating properly with statements, and how to handle delinquent accounts with collection protocols.
- Understanding family circumstances and how this will affect your approach with the responsible party and the patient.
- How to deal with different scenarios such as bankruptcy and divorced parents.