Dental Director

Title: Dental Director

FLSA Category: Exempt

Reports To: Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

Greater Baden Medical Services (GBMS) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dedicated to providing high-quality healthcare across Southern Maryland. With 9 clinical sites located throughout Prince George's, Charles, and St. Mary's counties, we serve over 18,000 patients every year. We provide fully integrated care that includes primary care, pediatrics, women's health, Title X family planning, dental care, behavioral health, WIC, pharmacy services, and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. Our patient population is primarily made up of Medicaid and uninsured individuals. We are deeply proud to deliver these vital services to everyone in our community regardless of their ability to pay, making Greater Baden an incredibly rewarding place to grow your career while making a tangible, life-changing impact every day.

Job Summary:

Responsible for providing patient care as appropriate in the clinical setting, for dental health management, coordination of services with other agencies, clinical tracking of special population groups. The Dental Director ensures that the patient has access to care and the quality of care aligns with organizational priorities and goals. The Dental Director provides oversight and support to all activities or duties required to assure optimal patient oral health and dental services. In partnership with executive leadership, the Dental Director develops and implements strategies to expand access to oral healthcare services, improve patient experience and clinical outcomes, optimize operational efficiency, and support the recruitment, development, and retention of a high-performing dental team

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

1. Executive & Strategic Leadership

• Serve as the primary oral health champion and clinical subject matter expert for GBMS, representing the Dental Division to internal leadership and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with executive and clinical leaders to develop, execute, and monitor strategic initiatives that expand access to dental care across all three clinic sites.
• Work closely with Clinical Operations Managers, Center Managers, and the Dental Practice Manager to optimize operational efficiency, patient workflow, scheduling, and clinical coverage.
• Contribute to grant writing, program development, and budget/resource planning for oral health programs.
• Present dental department processes, outcomes, and performance metrics to executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and external partners as required.

2. Clinical Supervision, Staff Management & Development

• Provide direct supervision, mentorship, and continuous performance feedback to Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and Dental Support Staff across all sites.
• Partner with leadership to oversee the training, competency development, and career growth of Dental Assistants.
• Lead regular, structured departmental meetings to align team goals, review clinical protocols, and foster multisite collaboration.
• Lead the Dental Division's peer review process in partnership with the CMO to ensure timely clinical assessments, constructive feedback, and tracked outcomes.
• Oversee staff credentialing requirements, clinical onboarding, and professional development.

3. Operations, Quality Improvement & Compliance

• Lead and integrate the Dental Division into organizational Quality Improvement (QI) and Performance Improvement (PI) initiatives.
• Partner with the Infection Control and Quality teams to maintain strict oversight of sterilization protocols, equipment maintenance, infection control standards, and health hazard elimination.
• Manage administrative and vendor relationships with dental laboratories, equipment suppliers, and 3rd-party partners.
• Coordinate with operations teams to analyze patient satisfaction data, resolve clinical grievances, and continuously improve the patient experience.
• Ensure full compliance with Joint Commission standards, OSHA, HIPAA, state licensing boards, and local/federal healthcare regulations.

4. Direct Patient Care & Clinical Practice

• Provide comprehensive, high-quality direct dental care in accordance with organizational protocols and community health plans.
• Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of the teeth, gums, and oral structures.
• Perform restorative procedures, extractions, endodontic therapy, prosthodontics (e.g., dentures/models), sealants, and preventative treatments.
• Administer local anesthetics safely and prescribe appropriate pharmacological interventions.
• Review and interpret diagnostic X-rays and clinical tests to formulate accurate treatment plans.
• Educate patients on oral hygiene, diet, fluoride use, and preventative oral health strategies.
• Maintain complete, timely, and accurate patient records in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, including encounter forms, chart notes, and insurance consultation/referral documentation.

Non-Essential / Secondary Responsibilities

• Serve as a clinical resource to multidisciplinary teams, supporting integrated care models between primary care, pediatrics, and dental services.
• Assist the Safety Officer with employee health initiatives, particularly regarding bloodborne pathogen exposure protocols.
• Coordinate with specialized dental practitioners or external medical agencies when complex patient care requires specialized referral.
• Participate in health fairs, community outreach events, and local oral health awareness programs.
• Perform other clinical or administrative duties as assigned by the Chief Medical Officer to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Qualifications & Credentials

Education & Licensure

• D.D.S. or D.M.D. from an accredited dental school.
• Active, unrestricted license to practice dentistry in the State of Maryland (or eligible for licensure).
• Active Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and Maryland State Controlled Substance license.
• Current CPR/BLS Certification.

Experience & Competencies

• 10 years of clinical practice experience; experience in a Community Health Center (FQHC) or public health setting strongly required.
• 5-7 years of clinical leadership, supervisory, or management experience required.
• Proven ability to lead multi-site teams and manage cross-departmental relationships.
• Strong familiarity with Joint Commission accreditation standards, infection control protocols, and quality improvement frameworks.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and team-building skills.

Supervisory Responsibility

1. Dental Hygienist
2. Dental Assistants
3. Students, interns, fellows and the like

Dental Division Lead Responsibilities

1. General Dentists

Travel

Must be able to drive between Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc. locations