Staff Dentist - Temporary Coverage (6 Months)

Staff Dentist Opportunity

Petaluma Health Center is seeking a Staff Dentist for a temporary 6-Month assignment to help increase access for our patients while we recruit for a permanent pediatric dentist. This is an hourly position without benefits, ideal for dentists interested in short-term or locum-style work in a mission-driven community health center. This assignment may lead to additional opportunities within Petaluma Health Center.

The Staff Dentist 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. The Staff Dentist performs general dental hygiene and periodontal treatment, and provides patients with dental education. In addition, our Staff Dentists perform dental restorations, crowns, bridges, implant supported restorations and dentures; root canal therapy and oral surgery procedures; pediatric dentistry and orthodontic treatment according to their level of training and expertise and within the scope of the clinic's practice. A Staff Dentist manages the care of patients and provides necessary referrals with prompt follow up. He/she will supervise and guide dental auxiliaries and front office staff with performing their duties, while working as a team to provide excellent care to our patients.

Areas of Responsibility:

• Provides and manages patient care
• Delivers high quality of care in basic and advanced dental services in all phases of dentistry to patients of all ages
• 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
• Possesses excellent people skills, particularly a caring attitude toward patients and staff
• Follows a comprehensive program of preventive dentistry
• Creates treatment plans and prioritizes treatment based on medical necessity and quadrant dentistry

Supervision:

• Manages immediate staff such as assistants and patient care coordinator
• Ensures correct coding and accurate patient records according to clinic protocol
• Monitors patient scheduling to ensure efficiency and effectiveness through "perfect day scheduling". Supports PCCs with scheduling and patient panel management
• Able to lead and supervise the work of others
• Shares information obtained in seminars and educational resources
• Performs performance evaluations annually for the RDAs and PCCs they work with

Administration:

• Maintains thorough, accurate, timely and up-to-date patient records
• Responsible of documenting visit details to facilitate billing and to demonstrate medical necessity and quality of care

Compliance:

• Follows established protocols, policies and procedures
• Follows Standards of Care, Quality Assurance & Improvement Program and works collaboratively to achieve clinic goals
• Complies with all applicable State and Federal regulations, including but not limited to, Dental Board of California (DBCA), OSHA, CalOSHA and infection control guidelines
• Ensures patient confidentiality consistent with state and federal law

Other Duties:

• Understands the overall practice mission and works collaboratively to achieve long term and short term goals for the clinic
• Understands practice scope consistent with the mission and values of the clinic
• Attends and participates actively in required meetings, trainings and functions
• Maintains a positive relationship with practitioners in the community
• Works with the IT department and Dentrix, Guru and Dexis Support
• Communicates with dental laboratories and other outside vendors
• Actively contributes to the achievement of the triple aim goals and company strategic goals
• Supports the department with achieving budget goals and is cost conscious when requesting materials, supplies and equipment
• Performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve clinic goals and objectives, as directed by the Chief Dental Officer

Qualifications:

• Graduate of an ADA accredited Dental School /required
• Dentistry requires diagnostic ability and manual skills
• Dentists should have good visual memory, excellent judgment regarding space, shape and color, a high degree of manual dexterity and scientific ability
• Good business sense, self-discipline, and good communication skills are also important factors
• Other skills are: taking x-rays and photographs, computer skills, taking precautions against infectious diseases, dealing with tense patients, using rotary and hand instruments, dental appliances, and medications
• Active dental license for the state of CA, must have met all applicable state requirements
• Completed CE requirements including Dental Practice Act and Infection control
• Current BLS certification
• 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.