Dental Director

Job Description

Job Description

St. George Medical Clinic (SGMC) is seeking an experienced, patient-focused, and team-oriented Dental Director to provide clinical leadership, oversee dental operations, develop a high-performing dental team, and expand access to high-quality, comprehensive oral health care throughout the community.

The Dental Director will advance SGMC’s mission by promoting clinical excellence, patient safety, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and continuous quality improvement.

Under the general supervision of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and in collaboration with the administrative team, the Dental Director is responsible for administering, maintaining, and expanding a program of primary and, in selected instances, secondary preventive dental care in accordance with SGMC’s goals.

The Dental Director supervises dental staff, represents the department to center leadership, and provides clinical and direct patient care services as agreed upon with the CMO or Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Administrative and Compliance Functions

Develop standards and qualifications for dental personnel and oversee approval of dental staff.

Develop, implement, and periodically review Dental Department policies, protocols, and procedures in accordance with accepted professional standards and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) requirements.

Ensure personal and departmental compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, Health Center Program requirements, and SGMC policies governing dentistry and clinical care.

Ensure compliance with requirements related to personnel, workplace safety, public health, patient confidentiality, and clinical operations.

Supervise and advise dental providers and staff and, in collaboration with the CMO and/or CEO, address performance and disciplinary matters.

Conduct periodic staff evaluations as required.

Serve as a liaison between dental staff and administration.

Attend and participate in monthly Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) meetings.

Participate in budget planning and monitoring with administration and review the development and evaluation of program goals.

Ensure dental services comply with West Virginia Board of Dentistry requirements, HRSA Health Center Program requirements, applicable laws, and SGMC policies.

Collaborate with the CMO and administrative leadership on clinical risk management, credentialing and privileging, scope of practice, and professional performance concerns.

Monitor program performance, including access to care, productivity, patient satisfaction, and financial sustainability, and recommend improvements as needed.

Management Functions

Participate in recruitment and retention activities for the dental program.

Provide clinical supervision, regular performance appraisals, and constructive feedback to dental staff.

Oversee clinical scheduling, on-call coverage, and leave coverage.

Oversee continuing professional education, in-service training, and orientation for new dental staff.

Approve student affiliation agreements and rotations and oversee dental students’ performance within the health center.

Ensure dental services are integrated into SGMC’s comprehensive health care services.

Advise on the purchase of new and replacement dental equipment.

Lead planning and development of new dental programs.

Facilitate dental staff meetings as needed.

Assist staff in selecting appropriate treatment modalities for SGMC’s patient populations.

Review dental staff input, ideas, and concerns with the CMO and CEO.

Develop and implement strategies to improve access to dental services, reduce appointment backlogs, optimize scheduling, and support appropriate patient follow-up.

Establish and monitor departmental goals and performance measures in collaboration with SGMC leadership.

Promote teamwork, professional development, recruitment, and retention while fostering a respectful, supportive, and accountable work environment.

Evaluate opportunities to expand preventive, restorative, pediatric, and other appropriate dental services based on community needs and available resources.

Clinical Functions

Examine patients seeking care, diagnose oral health conditions, prescribe and provide appropriate treatment, direct others in providing care, and refer patients for specialty consultation or treatment in accordance with approved clinical protocols and guidelines.

Provide general dental treatment, including oral disease diagnosis and treatment, pediatric dentistry, prosthodontics, operative dentistry, oral surgery, and endodontics, within the provider’s authorized scope of practice.

Facilitate after-hours dental coverage for SGMC patients in accordance with applicable Section 330 requirements. The Dental Director may delegate on-call responsibilities to appropriate dental personnel. All after-hours calls handled by dental staff must be documented in the patient’s electronic health record.

Document all care in the electronic dental record, ensuring records accurately and completely reflect patient contacts, clinical conditions, and care or treatment provided.

Complete referrals, data collection instruments, and other required records and documentation.

Educate patients and the community about oral health, disease prevention, and appropriate dental care.

Assist with continuing education, on-the-job training, and orientation of dental center staff as requested.

Complete dental charts after each visit in accordance with SGMC protocols.

Quality and Patient Safety Functions

Oversee dental quality improvement initiatives, clinical audits, infection prevention and control, and compliance with applicable sterilization and patient safety standards.

Review clinical incidents, patient complaints, and identified deficiencies in care and implement corrective actions when indicated.

Monitor clinical documentation, treatment planning, referral completion, and continuity of care to promote safe, consistent, high-quality services.

Performance Improvement Functions

Oversee the quality of dental care to meet patient and organizational needs.

Ensure the dental program meets applicable local, state, and FQHC quality and safety requirements.

Promote continuous quality improvement and adherence to established clinical standards.

General Duties

Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to SGMC’s mission in all aspects of the position.

Uphold SGMC’s Quality Standards by modeling service excellence, addressing service deficiencies, and performing all duties responsibly.

Demonstrate a caring and helpful attitude when interacting with patients, vendors, and colleagues, fostering cooperative relationships with internal and external partners.

Promote a dental department environment in which providers maintain independent professional judgment and responsibility, subject to peer review and recommendations from the CMO.

Ensure dental providers adhere to professional ethics, applicable laws and ordinances, and SGMC policies.

Handle confidential information in accordance with SGMC policies.

Participate in grant application preparation as requested.

Perform other related duties necessary to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives.

Participate in other program activities as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Current, unrestricted license to practice dentistry in West Virginia.

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Eligibility for credentialing and privileging in accordance with SGMC policies and applicable requirements.

Eligibility to enroll in and maintain participation as a Medicare and West Virginia Medicaid provider, as applicable.

Demonstrated clinical competence and the ability to provide comprehensive general dental care within the provider’s authorized scope of practice.

Preferred Qualifications

Five or more years of clinical dental experience.

Previous experience in dental leadership, clinical supervision, or program management.

Experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), community health center, or other safety-net health care setting.

Experience with dental quality improvement, regulatory compliance, budgeting, and program development.

Salary and Benefits

Annual Salary: $225,000–$245,000

Health, dental, vision, life, and accident insurance

Relocation allowance

Student loan repayment assistance available

Paid time off (PTO) and 11 paid holidays

Flexible work schedule

Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities

Retirement plan with a 4% employer match