Primary Function

The purpose of this position is to provide dental prosthodontic services, namely dentures and partial dentures, to the designated population as well as perform prosthodontic consultations for the staff and contracted dentists of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) and other dental services and treatments as assigned to meet the diverse health and social needs of the patient population. The primary function of the Dentist: Dentures and Partial Dentures position will be to perform removable prosthodontic services including full dentures, immediate dentures, partial dentures (both metal-based and acrylic) as well as follow-up care and denture/partial denture adjustments. The position will also include performing all aspects of general dental treatment including complete and emergency examinations, interpreting radiographs, creating treatment plans and performing dental treatment for patients including routine dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, extractions, preventive, removable and other dental services to eligible patients as assigned. The Dentist: Dentures and Partial Dentures will document clinical observations and treatment as well as adhere to industry standards and ensure proper compliance with federal, local and state laws. These procedures, which require independent judgment and skilled workmanship, affect the attitudes and well-being of the patients. They also affect the efficiency and overall attitude of the dental team. The ideal candidate for this position will have exceptional technical skills, especially in regards to dentures and partial dentures, as well as the ability to connect with patients to provide caring treatment within the mission of the CIHA.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides dental prosthodontic services, namely dentures and partials, to the designated population. The position will be primarily clinical with some training, case study presentation, consultation and collaboration duties included.
• Emphasis will be placed on completing quality work in an efficient manner so as to see an adequate volume of patients and to deliver cases within a reasonable time period (usually within 8 weeks) to achieve patient satisfaction. Provides dental services of a scope, quality and quantity consistent with CIHA policies.

• Duties involved in the position are primarily clinical along with consultative, training, quality assurance and customer satisfaction components. Regularly encounters, diagnoses, and administers treatment for dental diseases and dental health problems including restorative cases primarily involving removable prosthesis (i.e. dentures and partial dentures) but also may include fixed restorations and other dental procedures as assigned. 
• Provides diagnostic services through the use of history, radiographs, clinical examination, diagnostic models, and other appropriate tests which are necessary to plan and deliver restorative treatment.

• Must perform diagnostic tests (i.e. x-rays, photos and impressions of the teeth, pulp vitality testing) that are necessary to treatment plan.

• Provides restoration of teeth lost to a variety of factors including severe and/or rampant caries, trauma, periodontal disease and/or significant occlusal wear. Regularly treats cases of a difficult nature including management of medically and mentally compromised patients, especially Elders, with complex oral health conditions including severe bony ridge atrophy, mandibular tori and reduced vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) restorative space among other difficult conditions.
• Treatment may be performed on patients with complex medical histories including compromised mental, emotional, developmental and physical conditions due to a variety of factors including stress, systemic or genetic diseases. This includes patients with limited control of physical faculties, degenerative conditions and unusual oral conditions.
• The incumbent will obtain consultative services in medicine and other specialty areas of dentistry for cases that require a multidisciplinary approach but acts independently for complex cases involving his/her area of specialty.

 

• Provide both routine and complex dental restorative services including fillings and crowns as well as use of newer dental technologies such as CEREC to give patients state-of-the-art care.
• Provides endodontic, prosthetic, periodontal and oral surgery procedures.
• Provides emergency services including the treatment of trauma, pain and infection. Will be expected to treat emergency/walk-in patients when needed or during times of broken appointments or cancellations, including pediatric patients if needed.

• Provides dental services using local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, sedative and medications or combinations thereof as needed to manage difficult anxiety cases.

 

• Completes limited, periodic, and comprehensive examinations on new and established dental program patients; reviews the patient’s medical and dental history; examines the oral cavity, head & neck and oropharynx of each patient for evidence of pathology; prescribes and interprets routine radiographs to identify soft tissues, tooth structures, and dental diseases and abnormalities.

• Leads the development, implementation and maintenance of the CIHA prosthetic dentistry service including scheduling and treating patients in an efficient manner and continual review and improvement of program processes.
• Provides specialty consults for and works with the CIHA dentists and pediatric and oral surgery departments to coordinate multidisciplinary care.
• The incumbent may be called upon to provide services at other than routine clinic hours for all patient populations. Works on a rotation with the other staff dentists to provide emergency dental call after hours, on weekends, and during holiday time-periods. May be called upon to provide dental expertise in after-hour emergency patients for CIHA hospital staff.

 

• The incumbent must be invested in new techniques and staff training to keep care “state of the art.” Researches current dental literature and participates in annual continuing dental education to meet state license requirements and to keep up-to-date on the most current dental materials, techniques, research findings, and standards of care in the field of dentistry.
• The incumbent is responsible for appropriate record keeping and documentation.
• The incumbent must have basic computer skills as to become proficient in the electronic dental and health records used at the facility.
• Be an active member of the Medical/Dental Staff of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) and credentialed by this body.
• Attends CIHA meetings as required or requested to be a resource and provide knowledge on the field of dentistry and/or current status of the CIHA Dental clinic.

• Be an active participant of peer review, performance improvement and quality assurance processes.
• Abides by the Policies and Procedures and By-Laws of the CIHA.
• Supports the mission, vision, strategic plan and goals of the CIHA and the CIHA Dental Department.
• The Cherokee Indian Hospital reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the business need arises.

Education, Experience and Licenses

• Must possess a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) degree from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
• Must have a current, unrestricted dental license to practice dentistry in a State, territory or commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia and be eligible for dental licensure in the state of North Carolina. Incumbent holding an unrestricted license in another state must obtain an unrestricted license to practice dentistry in the State of North Carolina within one year of hiring.
• The incumbent is required to obtain and maintain all certification and education requirements to annually renew their NC dental license once obtained.
• Salary level will be based on the applicant’s experience.

• Current BLS certification.
• Current DEA certificate.
• Post-doctoral programs such as formal residencies will increase the value of this employee to the CIHA Dental clinic.
• Must possess professional knowledge and experience in prosthetic dentistry
• Be able to treat patients with complex medical histories, mental and/or behavioral health challenges.
• Five or more years of professional dental experience and training preferred.