Employment

Primary Function    

The purpose of this position is to serve as Dentist - Pediatrics to provide dental services to the designated pediatric population. The purpose of the work is to perform the necessary pediatric dental treatment in an efficient and professional manner, meeting the pediatric needs of the patient population. The Dentist - Pediatrics will perform all aspects of dental treatment for pediatric patients, including young and/or uncooperative patients, to include comprehensive and emergency examinations, interpreting radiographs, creating treatment plans and performing dental treatment for patients including routine dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, extractions, preventive, and other dental services to eligible patients. The Dentist - Pediatrics 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 Dentist - Pediatrics for this position will have exceptional technical skills as well as the ability to connect with patients to provide caring treatment within the mission of the CIHA.

Job Duties/Responsibilities  

• Duties involved in this position are clinical along with consultative, referral, training, quality assurance, and program planning activities.
• Provide both routine and complex dental services including fillings, pulpotomies, stainless steel crowns and extractions.
• Provide caries management with Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) and alternative dental treatment options such as Hall crowns and interim therapeutic restorations when conventional treatment is not recommended or possible in accordance with current public health principles.
• Provide preventive services including sealant, space management, fluoridation and oral hygiene instructions both clinically and community-based.
• Regularly treats pediatric patients with behavior and communication challenges including very young and anxious children.
• Provides dental services using local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, sedative medications or combination thereof to manage anxiety cases from the pediatric population.
• Completes limited, periodic, and comprehensive examinations on new and established dental program pediatric 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.
• Provides appropriate emergency dental services, including treatment of trauma, pain, and infection for children within the age range determined by current community and dental clinic needs. Will be expected to treat emergency/walk-in patients when needed or during times of broken appointments or cancellations, including adult patients if needed.
• Maintains a recall system for follow-up of chronic care or pathology patients.
• Collaborates with Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) and external dental and medical teams to appropriately manage the treatment of patients with significant medical complexities and immune-deficiencies.
• Refers for specialist pediatric dental care when indicated and in the best interest of the child, including appropriate operating room (OR) referrals.
• Participates in community outreach programs including the EBCI Children’s Dental Program, Head Start Programs, and other events related to health promotion and disease prevention.
• Collaborates with Family Safety to manage clients who need resources or have issues with dental neglect.Documents and tracks Family Safety referrals as defined by the progam.
• 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 pediatric dental advice in after-hour emergency patients.
• The incumbent must be invested in new techniques and staff training to keep care “state of the art.” Researches current pediatric 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 as in the field of dentistry.
• Reviews appropriateness of current CIHA Pediatric Program equipment, instruments, materials, and techniques, and provides recommendations to the CIHA Chief Dental Officer.
• 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 on the topic of pediatric dentistry, preventative efforts and school screenings and/or current status of the CIHA Dental clinic.
• Be an active participant of peer review, performance improvement and quality assurance
• Abide by the Policies and Procedures and By-Laws of the CIHA.
• Support 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         

• Incumbent must be a degreed graduate from an American Dental Association accredited dental program. This would include an undergraduate degree and a doctoral degree in dental practice: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree.
• Salary level will be based on the applicant’s experience.
• Have current, unrestricted dental license in the State of North Carolina or current, unrestricted dental license in another state 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.
• Six months to become proficient in the job, this would include pre-doctoral externship and post-doctoral residencies.
• 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.
• Pediatric dentistry experience preferred.