SUMMARY: In charge of oversight of clinical practices, oversees regulatory compliance, safety and standards of care. Responsible for administering, maintaining and expanding a program of primary (and in selected instances, secondary care) and preventive dental care in a community health center setting. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Examines individuals, diagnoses their dental/oral conditions, prescribes and carries out, or directs others in carrying out, appropriate dental/oral treatment, or refers individuals.
2. Records patient-dentist transactions as they occur in the patient’s dental record so that the dental record accurately and completely reflects the nature of the contact, the condition of the patient and the care or treatment provided. 
3. Educates individuals in the nature of oral health related conditions and in the general promotion of oral health related disease prevention.
4. Prepares and submits monthly written reports on Dental Department issues, concerns, program status, initiatives, and progress.
5. Develop, maintain, and implements appropriate policies, protocols and procedures which are in compliance with the most current accepted professional standards.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Graduate of Accredited Dental School, must have a current, valid North Carolina Dental license. At least one year supervisory experience. FTCA coverage or private professional malpractice insurance obtainable

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to read and comprehend written materials. Ability to write clearly and concisely. Ability to communicate effectively one-on-one or in small group situations. Ability to make formal presentations. Must be able to communicate effectively to patients of varying educational, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to calculate figures and to apply concepts of basic mathematics.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and utilize appropriate steps for problem resolution. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to exercise sound judgement.

COMPETENCY/SKILL REQUIREMENT:

Competency required in the areas of interpersonal communication, excellent verbal and written skills and knowledge of credentialing criteria and standards.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, CREDENTIALS, REGISTRATIONS:

DDS/DMD- must hold current unrestricted license to practice dentistry in the State of NC. Current CPR (BLS) certifications. ACLS preferred. DEA registration, Medicare and Medicaid provider numbers.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Requires a comprehensive knowledge of primary dental care in outpatient settings. Ability to operate basic office equipment. Ability to assess and visually present data. Ability to deal effectively with stress and to work under pressure. Ability to exercise flexibility in work schedule. Thorough knowledge or program, agency, state, federal and third party regulations relating to dental. Thorough knowledge of and skill in organizing and administering dental program, community health and administrative and education methods and training techniques.

The Dental Director of the center must be able to creatively work with other health care professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal productivity and programmatic effectiveness while continuously promoting the growth and development of fellow professionals, exercising appropriate supervisory control and displaying good work judgment.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical/mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, sit, stand, and walk. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to, climb, balance, stoop, or kneel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move patients of varying weights. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental demands include the ability to learn, adapt to changes, pay close attention to details, exercise discretion and good judgement, develop options and solutions to crisis and problems, gather and analyze facts, courteous and professional behavior, deal with stressful situations such as emergencies and/or staff shortage, and adhere to company policies and procedures.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Must be able to work in biohazard environment and treatment of HIV positive patients.

RISK CLASSIFICATION LEVEL:

I- (Job classification in which employees have occupational risks to blood borne pathogens)