Pediatric Dentist

Pediatric Dentist

The Petaluma Health Center's mission is to provide high quality health care with access for all in Southern Sonoma County & West Marin. We pride ourselves on our Patient-Centered care while maintaining an engaging environment for our staff. The Center accomplishes this mission through collaborative, innovative programs, services and referral resources that meet the economic needs of the entire community.

Summary of the Role: The Pediatric Dentist provides dental care for infants, children, and adolescents. Performs evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases, injuries and malformations of teeth, periodontal tissues and other related oral structures and their impact on the body. Performs general dental hygiene and periodontal treatment and provides patient dental education. Performs dental restorations, crowns, root canal therapy, oral surgery and periodontal therapy with or without the aid of nitrous oxide, oral sedation and general anesthesia. Supervises and guides dental auxiliaries and front office personnel with performing their duties.

Areas of Responsibility:

Patient Care:

• Providing patient care and managing immediate staff such as assistants and patient care coordinator. The Pediatric dentist will be an internal referral resource for the PHC/RPHC general dentists and other community clinics and organizations
• Infant oral health exams, which include risk assessment for caries in mother and child
• Preventive dental care including cleaning and fluoride treatments, as well as nutrition and diet recommendations
• Habit counseling (for example, pacifier use and thumb sucking)
• Early assessment and treatment for straightening teeth and correcting an improper bite (orthodontics)
• Repair of tooth cavities or defects
• Diagnosis of oral conditions associated with diseases such as diabetes, congenital heart defect, asthma, hay fever, and attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
• Management of gum disease and conditions including ulcers, short frenulae, mucoceles, and pediatric periodontal disease
• Care for dental injuries (for example, fractured, displaced, or knocked-out teeth)
• Counsels and advises patients and family on growth and development dental problems of patient
• Ability to handle complex and special needs cases
• Delivers high quality of care in basic and advanced dental services in all phases of dentistry to patients
• Diagnoses and treats patients to achieve excellent results within estimated treatment time with maximum attention to patient comfort
• Delivers treatment plans to patients along with an informed consent discussion surrounding treatment options, risks, benefits and alternatives
• Makes appropriate referrals and communicates with specialists
• Provides patient education materials
• Completes treatment plans in a timely manner
• Follows a comprehensive program of preventive dentistry
• Possesses excellent people skills, particularly a caring attitude toward patients and staff

Supervision:

• Monitors patient scheduling to ensure efficiency and effectiveness through "perfect day scheduling"
• Immediate staff such as assistant and patient care coordinator

Administration:

• Maintains accurate, timely and up-to-date patient records
• Able to lead and supervise the work of others
• Understands the overall practice mission, as well as long term and short term strategic goals for the clinic
• Understands practice scope consistent with the mission and values of the clinic
• Follows protocols, policies and procedures

Compliance:

• Ensures patient confidentiality consistent with State and Federal law
• Complies with all applicable State and Federal regulations, including but not limited to, DBCa, OSHA, CalOSHA and infection control guidelines
• Ensures correct coding and accurate patient records according to clinic protocol
• Follows Standards of Care, Quality Assurance & Improvement Program

Other Duties:

• Shares information obtained in seminars and educational resources
• Attends and participates actively in required meetings, trainings and functions
• Maintains a collaborative relationship with other practitioners in the community
• Works with the IT department and Dentrix, Guru and Dexis Support
• Communicates with dental laboratories and other outside vendors
• Performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve clinic goals and objectives, as directed by the Dental Director

Education/Experience:

• Graduate of ADA accredited Dental School with DDS or DMD degree
• 2-3 year Residency Program required

Licenses and Certifications:

• CA State License required
• All applicable state requirements must be met
• Completed CE requirements including Dental Practice Act and Infection Control
• Current BLS certification
• ADA or AAPD certifications preferred

Language Skills: Bilingual in English and Spanish, both written and verbal preferred.

Petaluma health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Petaluma health Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.