DESCRIPTION: Provides primary high quality, comprehensive dental care services to the Center’s clients.

SUPERVISION: Directly supervised by the Chief Dental Officer.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires prolonged hours standing, bending, stooping and may be required to move up to 25 pounds.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Examines, diagnoses, treats and prescribes medications to registered patients of the Center.

•Maintains a problem oriented dental record for each client seen in accordance with the Center’s Medical/Dental Record policies and procedures.

•Provides general dental services for patients to include, but not necessarily limited to the following services:

•Preventive dental services. (i.e. prophylaxis, scaling and root planing, fluoride treatment, x-rays.

•Operative dentistry. (i.e. amalgams, composites, stainless steel crowns etc.)

•Pedodontics, but not required to provide space maintenance or orthodontics.

•Oral surgery, limited to simple to moderately complex extractions.  Not expected to deal with complex cases.

•Endodontics on selected cases determined by his/her personal judgment. 

•Emergency dental care

•Assures continuity of care by providing in-patient dental services for patients within the scope of training and ability of provider.

•Reviews all x-ray findings and medical clearance reports for patients under provider’s care.

•Oversees and mentors senior dental students 

•Adheres to and participates in Center’s Quality Improvement/Risk Management policies.

•Meets with the Chief Executive Officer to discuss/address issues pertinent to the overall dental center operations.

•Refers patients for appropriate medical care services if deemed necessary before rendering dental treatment.

•Travels as necessary to meet Center’s operational needs. 

•Provides, as directed by dental director, oral dental health education to patients, parents of pediatric patients, school age children or other community organizations at designated sites.

•Must participate in Center’s Peer Review Process

•May be asked to help in training personnel according to qualifications of dentist

•Must wear required personal protection when handling exposed instruments and equipment.

•Dentist shall supervise the care provided by dental residents and students to include teaching activities, monitoring and oversight of services provided by the dental resident or student.

•Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

•D.D.S. or D.M.D.

•Current full unrestricted license to practice dentistry in the State of Texas.

•Must meet State Board requirements to maintain license in good standing

•Must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners

•Annual continuing professional education as required by Board.

•Must be registered and have current DEA and other such certificates to legally operate as a practitioner in the State of Texas.

•Must have a current BLS/CPR certificate.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

•Working knowledge of basic concepts, principles and practices of supervision.

•Good communication skills.

•Basic competence in statistics and their interpretation.

•Familiar with protocols in general and a specific knowledge of the Center’s current operational protocols.

•Knowledge of basic principles of health promotion, prevention and motivation.

•Sound judgment making practices.

•Willingness to travel.

•Good role model.

•Ability to problem-solve.

•Ability to prioritize and allocate resources.

HUMAN RIGHTS:

Gateway Community Health Center, Inc. does not discriminate regardless of race, color, marital status, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental handicap or disability, age Vietnam era veteran status, or other grounds as applicable federal, state and local laws or regulations.