Dental Provider - Endodontist

Job Summary

The Endodontist is full-time, exempt position responsible for providing endodontic services in a community health center setting. The Endodontist delivers root canal therapy, retreatment procedures, and related restorative procedures to underserved patient populations. The Endodontist supervises the dental assistants of the community health center in the absence of the dental director.

Essential Functions

• Performs comprehensive endodontic diagnosis, including clinical examination and interpretation of radiographic and diagnostic data to develop individualized treatment plans.
• Performs non-surgical root canal therapy (single and multi-visit) on anterior, premolar, and molar teeth, including treatment of complex and calcified canals.
• Maintains strict aseptic techniques, including comprehensive caries removal and rubber dam isolation, to prevent bacterial contamination of the root canal system.
• Places temporary restorations following endodontic procedures to protect the tooth pending definitive restoration.
• Performs core buildups and post-and-core restorations to restore structural integrity of endodontically treated teeth prior to crown placement.
• Manage endodontic emergencies including acute apical abscesses, irreversible pulpitis, and traumatic dental injuries.
• Provides retreatment of failed root canal therapy, including removal of separated instruments, posts, and obturation materials as clinically feasible.
• Consults and coordinates with general dentists and other dental specialists regarding case selection, referral criteria, and treatment sequencing.
• Examines individuals requesting care, diagnoses their dental/oral conditions, prescribes and carries out, or directs others in carrying out, appropriate dental/oral treatment, or refers individuals for specialty consultation or treatment in conformance with approved clinical protocols and guidelines.
• Records patient-dentist transactions as they occur in the patients dental records so that the dental record accurately and completely reflects the nature of the contract, the condition of the patient and the care or treatment provided. In addition, the Endodontist shall complete referrals, data collections instruments and other records or paperwork as shall be required from time to time by the corporation.
• Educates individuals in oral health related conditions and in the general promotion of oral health related disease prevention.
• Participates in all organizational quality activity improvement as assigned
• Prepare specific reports as requested by Unicare's Dental Director.
• Assists in the provision of continuing education, on the job training, and the orientation of community health center staff as requested.
• Designs, develops, and implements appropriate dental department policies, protocols and procedures as directed by the Dental Director which are following the most current accepted professional standards.
• Assists in the provision of technical assistance and health education to the community as requested.
• Participates in short- and long-term program planning for the dental department and the agency, including development of goals and objectives.
• Provides consultation to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors regarding dental and oral health issues in the absence of the Dental Director.
• Travels when necessary to fulfill the corporation's needs and attends meetings as necessary to represent the corporation and/or the dental department.
• Assists in the coordination and integration of the corporations dental programs and services with other corporate programs and services for the welfare of the corporations patients.
• Provides endodontic services at up to three (3) of Unicare's clinic locations.
• Responsible for personal full compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and Unicare rules, regulations, protocols and procedures governing the practice of dentistry and the clinical provision of dental care as well as those relating to, but not limited to, personnel issues, workplace safety, public health and confidentiality.
• Participates in recruitment/retention activities of the corporation, as necessary.
• Use of Electronic Health Records to deliver care.

Non-Essential Functions

• As directed by the Dental Director, performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives

Professional Requirements

• Adhere to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Maintain current license, DEA registration and BLS certification.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Report to work on time and as scheduled.
• Maintain regulatory requirements, including all state, federal and local regulations.
• Represent the organization in a positive and professional manner at all times.
• Comply with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicate the mission, ethics and goals of the organization.
• Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Must have reliable transportation.

Qualifications

• Unrestricted license to practice dentistry in the State of California.
• Certificate of Specialty in Endodontics recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA); or completion of an accredited postdoctoral endodontic residency program.
• Unrestricted DEA license.
• Current BLS/CPR certification.
• DDS or DMD degree from an ADA-accredited dental school.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Requires a comprehensive knowledge of primary dental care in outpatient settings.
• Knowledge of the principles and practice of modern dentistry as related to public health organizations and community health programs as well as current social and economic problems pertaining to public health and their impact on primary health care.
• Excellent people skills, with an ability to partner with a dynamic leadership team.
• Possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to corporate mission.
• Flexible and able to multitask; can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrate resourcefulness in setting priorities.
• Clinic site assignments are subject to change based on patient volume, staffing needs, and organizational priorities.

Travel

• Provides endodontic services at up to three (3) of Unicare's clinic locations.
• Will be traveling to other clinic's sites to work or attend meetings.
• Travel frequency is considered occasional to frequent (1-66% of work time).

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions

• Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions.
• Pushing and pulling objects up to 25 lbs.
• Frequent wrist, hand and finger dexterity to perform fine motor function without tremor, including precision instrumentation of root canal systems.
• Full range of body motion including twisting body, pushing, pulling.
• Moderate to high noise level exists in the work environment.
• Position requires light to moderate work with 25 lb. maximum weight to lift and carry.
• While performing the duties of this job, the position requires reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching and handling objects with hands and/or fingers, talking and/or hearing, and seeing.
• For Outside Screenings and/or Health Fairs - Rare exposure to outside conditions such as rain, heat, extreme heat, cold, or humidity will occur if performing duties outside of the building.
• Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Working Conditions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Non-Ionizing Radiation (microwaves, sun)
• Hazardous exposure (chemical [e.g., irrigants, latex, dental materials] and infectious).
• Ionizing radiation exposure (dental X-rays, including periapical and panoramic radiography; CBCT where available).

Work Schedule

• You will generally be scheduled to work each day, Monday through Friday, with starting times each day varying between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and ending times between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., as required to meet the operational needs of the company. There will be occasional Saturdays as needed.
• You will need to travel to other clinic locations as needed for cross coverage support.