Dentist

Primary Function

The purpose of this position is to serve as Dentist to provide general dental services to the designated population. The purpose of the work is to perform the necessary general dental treatment in an efficient and professional manner, meeting the diverse health and social needs of the patient population. The Dentist will perform all aspects of general dental treatment including complete and emergency examinations, interpreting radiographs, creating treatment plans and performing dental treatment for patients including routine dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, extractions, preventive, removable and other dental services to eligible patients. The Dentist will document clinical observations and treatment as well as adhere to industry standards and ensure proper compliance with federal, local and state laws.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide preventive services including sealant, space management, fluoridation and oral hygiene instructions both clinically and community-based.
• Perform diagnostic services through the use of history, radiographs, clinical examination, diagnostic models and other appropriate tests.
• Must perform diagnostic tests (i.e. x-rays, photos and impressions of the teeth, pulp vitality testing) that are necessary to treatment plan.
• Provide both routine and complex dental restorative services including fillings and crowns as well as use of newer dental technologies such as CEREC to give patients state-of-the-art care.
• Provides endodontic, prosthetic, periodontal and oral surgery procedures.
• Provides emergency services including the treatment of trauma, pain and infection. Will be expected to treat emergency/walk-in patients when needed or during times of broken appointments or cancellations, including pediatric patients if needed.
• Completes limited, periodic, and comprehensive examinations on new and established dental program patients; reviews the patient’s medical and dental history; examines the oral cavity, head & neck and oropharynx of each patient for evidence of pathology; prescribes and interprets routine radiographs to identify soft tissues, tooth structures, and dental diseases and abnormalities.
• Collaborates with Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) and external dental and medical teams to appropriately manage the treatment of patients with significant medical complexities and immunodeficiencies.
• Participates in community outreach programs including the EBCI Children’s Dental Program, Head Start Programs, and other events related to health promotion and disease prevention.
• Works on a rotation with the other staff dentists to provide emergency dental call after hours, on weekends, and during holiday time-periods. May be called upon to provide dental expertise in after-hour emergency patients for CIHA hospital staff.
• May be called upon to provide services at other than routine clinic hours for all patient populations.
• Be an active member of the Medical/Dental Staff of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) and credentialed by this body.
• Attends CIHA meetings as required or requested to be a resource and provide knowledge on the field of dentistry and/or current status of the CIHA Dental clinic.
• Participates in peer review, performance improvement and quality assurance.
• Abide by the Policies and Procedures and By-Laws of the CIHA.
• Support the mission, vision, strategic plan and goals of the CIHA and the CIHA Dental Department.

Education/Experience

• Incumbent must be a degreed graduate from an American Dental Association accredited dental program. This would include an undergraduate degree and a doctoral degree in dental practice: a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree.
• Six months to become proficient in the job, this would include pre-doctoral externship and post-doctoral residencies.
• Current BLS certification.
• Current DEA certificate.
• Post-doctoral programs such as formal residencies will increase the value of this employee to the CIHA Dental clinic.