Which is a primary role of administrative assistants in a dental office?

Managing patient records and schedules is a primary role of administrative assistants in a dental office. This responsibility is crucial as it ensures the smooth operation of the practice, allowing dental professionals to focus on patient care. Administrative assistants play a vital part in creating and maintaining an organized filing system for patient records, which includes ensuring that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and accessible when needed. Additionally, they are key in scheduling appointments, which is essential for optimizing the daily operations of the dental practice. By effectively managing these records and schedules, administrative assistants contribute significantly to patient flow and overall organization within the office.

The other choices, such as performing dental cleanings, handling laboratory work, and conducting patient surveys, are typically responsibilities of dental hygienists, dentists, or other specialized staff rather than administrative assistants. Each of these roles requires specific training and certifications that administrative assistants usually do not possess. Thus, the focus on managing records and schedules highlights the administrative assistant's essential function in maintaining the dental office's efficiency.