SUMMARY
Provides a comprehensive dental program throughout the life cycle, with emphasis on prevention of dental disease, promotion of dental health, and treatment of disease, injuries, and malformations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Works with members of other departments, participates in planning joint technical programs, and recommends methods and procedures for coordinating dental services with medical, nutritional, social, and other human services.
Investigate and study trends and developments in dental practices and techniques, reflecting applicable advances in the field to guide professional and technical staff.
Participates in integrating dental health services into primary care as indicated in the Dental Health Care Plan.
Assist in the development and execution of the Dental Health Plan.
Establishes and maintains a recall system, short call list, and lists of patients who are chronically late and break appointments.
Maintains accurate, confidential, and secure patient records.
Provides dental care by diagnosing and treating disease, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums.
Makes visual examination of the patient’s teeth and surrounding oral structures, utilizing x-rays, mouth mirror, exploration, instruments, and other diagnostic procedures; enters findings on a dental chart and in patient’s medical records; decides upon and carries to completion the most feasible plan of treatment including scheduling the necessary follow-up appointments.
Locate and repair cavities in teeth.
Extracts impacted, infected, or otherwise diseased and troublesome teeth or performs root canal work.
Makes impressions and models of jaw and mouth in preparation for dentures.
Treats teeth, gums, and mouth diseases with appropriate drugs or by surgery.
Advises patients about dental health practices.
Assists in maintaining adequate dental supplies and equipment.
Promotes the fluoridation of public water.
Conducts and participates in an ongoing dental health education program.
Conducts dental screenings on-site and off-site and tracks abnormalities.
Actively participates in the Continuous Quality Improvement Committee.
Observes and assists dental personnel at work to ensure safe and ethical practices.
Participates in national, state, and local dental societies and professional organizations.
Attends staff meetings and in-service education programs.
Formulates and writes technical reports and procedures.
Teaches patients, community, and personnel dental health.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Carries out supervisory responsibilities under the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; regarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems in the absence of the Director of Dental Services.
QUALIFICATIONS
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 essential functions.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
DDS or DMD from an accredited School of Dentistry.
Six months of clinical experience preferred.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret related documents. Ability to respond effectively to patients’ inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make compelling and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply logical or scientific thinking principles to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, musical notes, etc.) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Must be licensed to practice Dentistry in the State of Mississippi.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move patients. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here represent 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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and risk of radiation. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
