Dentist

Dental Clinic Dentist

Under direct supervision, is responsible for professional dental and managerial work of considerable difficulty in a public health clinic and performs related work as required.

An employee in this class is responsible for providing professional dental care to patients and program participants at a local health department, 7:30-4:00 Monday-Friday (excluding holidays). All health department employees get a one-hour lunch break in the middle of each workday.

General Position Duties and Responsibilities:

The following duties are normal for this position. However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all–inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may also be required or assigned. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Getting Information:

1. Assess information from medical history, patient and/or parent or legal guardian and medical consults, concerning information as it relates to patient treatment.
2. Obtain information from internal or external stakeholders/partners to develop, implement, and prioritize programs based on the information received.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

1. Uses professional judgment to determine the most appropriate and effective treatment plan for each patient.
2. Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

1. Provides general dental services to patients to prevent or eliminate dental disease.
2. Plan and coordinate public health dental programs and provide innovative leadership to improve oral health by utilizing scientifically proven methods to prevent dental disease.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

1. Responds to complaints, disputes and grievances and conflicts from internal and/or external sources to maintain a positive environment.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

1. Prioritizes and conducts tasks based on importance, urgency and other scheduled activities.
2. Implements program standards, goals, objectives and guidelines.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

1. Develops rapport with participants, families, and community partners.
2. Maintains professional working relationships with co-workers and community partners.

Communicating with Persons outside Organization:

1. Interacts with others and serves as a Health Department representative.
2. Develops and maintains an ongoing working relationship with laboratories, health care providers and community-based organizations.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

1. Learns to review departmental policies and procedures to keep current of any changes, revisions or additions.
2. Attends and completes all required training.
3. Maintains continuing education (CEUs) as required by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry.
4. Research the latest dental techniques, equipment and materials for dissemination and implementation to dental field personnel, thus providing technical support and/or supervision to staff.

Monitoring and Processing Information:

1. Accurately codes procedures for services performed to meet fiscal guidelines.
2. Conducts appropriate monitoring of clinical service delivery in compliance with local, regional and state guidelines.

Communicating with Supervisors or Peers:

1. Maintains positive, constructive and cooperative communication by telephone, in written form, in email or in person with supervisors and peers.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources:

1. Monitor inventory equipment and/or supplies to ensure the unit has the necessary equipment and/or supplies to perform functions.
2. Submit request for expenditures to management for approval.

County Organization Duties and Responsibilities:

• Represents and coordinates the Department and County to other County staff and members of the public.
• Provides staff assistance to the Department Director; serves as an advisor and resource to Department personnel.
• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.

Expectations of Employee:

• Adheres to County Government Policy and Procedures
• Follows Health Department Standards and Protocols
• Acts as a role model within and outside the work environment
• Performs duties as workload necessitates
• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude
• Communicates regularly with local leadership about department issues
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload
• Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the various internal and external cultures that utilize department services
• Consistently reports to work on time, prepared to perform duties of the position
• Meets County Government productivity and quality standards
• Maintains appropriate customer relations

Qualifications

Job Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Competencies:

• Compassion
• Composure
• Conflict Management
• Integrity and Trust
• Decision Quality
• Ethics and Values
• Listening
• Negotiating
• Organize
• Perseverance
• Planning
• Priority Setting
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Timely Decision Making
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Approachability
• Technical Learning
• Functional/Technical Competency

Knowledge:

• Anatomy
• Dental Protocol, Techniques & Methods
• Administration and Management
• Computers and Electronics
• Customer and Personal Service
• Education and Training
• Law and Government
• Mathematics
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Psychology
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Therapy and Counseling

Skills:

• Active Learning
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Learning Strategies
• Mathematics
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Science
• Speaking
• Writing
• Coordination
• Application of Scientific Rules & Methods
• Instructing
• Negotiation
• Persuasion
• Service Orientation
• Social Perceptiveness
• Complex Problem Solving
• Management of Personnel Resources
• Time Management

Abilities:

• Cognitive
• Category Flexibility
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Memorization
• Number Facility
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Perceptual Speed
• Problem Sensitivity
• Selective Attention
• Speed of Closure
• Time Sharing
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Finger Dexterity
• Manual Dexterity