Dentist - General Practice

NHSC-approved site (clinicians here can apply for NHSC Loan Repayment) · dental HPSA score 25 · Federally Qualified Health Center

The Public Health Dentist is responsible for providing comprehensive, high-quality oral healthcare services to patients of all ages within a community health center setting. This position focuses on improving the oral health of underserved and vulnerable populations through preventive, restorative, emergency, and educational dental services. The Public Health Dentist works collaboratively with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to promote overall health and reduce oral health disparities while supporting the mission and values of the organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive dental examinations, diagnoses, and treatment planning.

• Deliver preventive, restorative, prosthodontic, endodontic, periodontal, and oral surgical procedures within the scope of practice.

• Diagnose and treat oral diseases, infections, injuries, and abnormalities.

• Provide emergency dental care for patients experiencing pain, trauma, or infection.

• Educate patients and families on preventive oral healthcare, nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention.

• Develop individualized treatment plans that promote long-term oral health.

• Prescribe medications appropriately and in accordance with federal and state regulations.

• Review medical histories and collaborate with medical providers to ensure safe, coordinated patient care.

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete electronic health records (EHR) documentation.

• Ensure compliance with infection prevention, sterilization, OSHA, CDC, HIPAA, and Arizona Dental Board standards.

• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, peer review activities, and risk management programs.

• Supervise and collaborate with dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other clinical support staff.

• Promote patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care.

• Participate in community outreach activities, oral health education programs, and public health initiatives when requested.

• Meet established productivity, quality, and patient access goals while maintaining high standards of care.

• Participate in provider meetings, staff meetings, continuing education, and organizational training.

• Support organizational goals related to access to care, value-based care, and quality metrics.

Working Conditions

• Primarily works in a clinical dental setting.

• Requires prolonged standing, sitting, bending, and repetitive hand movements.

• Exposure to bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases; appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.

• May travel between clinic locations as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.

• Manual dexterity sufficient to perform detailed dental procedures.

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.

• Visual acuity sufficient to perform precision clinical work.

Performance Expectations

• Provide patient-centered, evidence-based dental care.

• Maintain compliance with organizational policies, federal and state regulations, and accreditation standards.

• Meet established productivity and quality benchmarks.

• Foster positive relationships with patients, colleagues, and community partners.

• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accountability, and cultural humility in all interactions.

Benefits of Working in Public Health

• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on community health.

• Collaborative interdisciplinary healthcare environment.

• Eligible for participation in loan repayment programs, where applicable.

• Continuing education opportunities.

• Comprehensive employee benefits package in accordance with organizational policy.

Equal Opportunity Employer

United Community Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited dental school.

• Current Arizona dental license in good standing or eligibility for Arizona licensure.

• Current DEA registration and Controlled Substance Registration, if applicable.

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

• Ability to obtain credentialing and privileging through all contracted health plans.

• Strong knowledge of evidence-based dentistry and public health principles.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and patient education skills.

• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) or more years of clinical experience in community health, public health, or an FQHC setting.

• Experience treating pediatric and adult populations.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

• Experience using electronic dental record systems.

• Experience with quality improvement initiatives and population health management.