Pediatric Dentist

Job Summary:

This position specializes in providing dental care to children, from infancy through adolescence, at the Oyate Health Center (OHC). The role involves a specific understanding of the developmental stages of children's teeth, gums, and related oral structures. This pediatric dentist ensures the delivery of child-friendly, high-quality dental services to the young relatives of OHC, incorporating approaches that cater to the unique dental needs of children and promote positive dental experiences from an early age.

Essential Functions:

• Evaluate pediatric relatives condition using clinical examination and radiographs, with a focus on developmental dental stages and child specific oral health issues.
• Provide prophylaxis and preventative dental services for children including, fluoride treatments and dental sealants, emphasizing early cavity prevention and oral health education.
• Treat dental caries in children, including filling cavities and placing crowns, when necessary, with an approach suitable for primary and young permanent teeth.
• Administer local anesthetic with special consideration for pediatric dosages and relative comfort to alleviate anxiety and pain during dental procedures.
• Conduct pulpotomies and stainless-steel crown placements as alternatives to adult root canal therapy, tailored to treat affected primary teeth.
• Provide basis periodontal care suited for children, focusing on preventative measures and non-surgical treatments like scaling and oral hygiene instruction.
• Perform pediatric oral surgery, such as tooth extractions and minor surgical procedures, considering the unique aspects of a child's oral anatomy and development.
• Design and fabricate pediatric space maintainers to address premature tooth loss in children, rather than adult- oriented fixed and removable dentures.
• Educate both the children and their guardians in child-specific oral hygiene and home care practices to foster lifelong dental health habits.
• Comply with federal laws and regulations as required by HIPAA, with special attention to the privacy concerns of pediatric relatives.
• Actively participate in pediatric dental clinic quality improvement activities, focusing on child-friendly environments and procedures.
• Participate in pediatric dentistry meetings and represent the pediatric dental community as required.
• Provide prompt and appropriate treatment to address urgent dental issues.
• Work collaboratively with dental assistants, hygienists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care.
• Maintain current knowledge of pediatric dental regulations and comply with infection control, safety and OSHA procedures specific to a pediatric dental practice.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, including treatment plan, progress notes, and X-rays using the Electronic Health Records (EHR) system.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Professional Behavior:

• Effectively plan, organize workload, and schedule time to meet the demands of the position.
• Work cooperatively and professionally with OHC and GPTLHB staff.
• Treat Great Plains tribes and collaborators with dignity and respect.
• Utilize effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Advance personal educational development by attending training sessions and seminars as appropriate.
• Exemplify excellent customer service with tribal stakeholders, health board colleagues, program partners, service recipients, visitors, and guests.
• Foster a work environment of wellness, courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness, and respect.
• Relate well and work collaboratively with coworkers and all levels of staff in a professional manner.
• Consistently demonstrate respect for and acceptance of differing capabilities, cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation and/or personalities.
• Maintain and ensure organizational privacy and confidentiality.
• Handle crisis and tolerate stress professionally.
• Be self-directed and take proactive initiative to assist others.
• Resolve issues with other departments and coworkers without direct supervision if needed.
• Exercise flexibility to alter plans/routines when situations require and continue to perform without projecting stress/frustration that would adversely affect the work environment.
• Promote an alcohol, tobacco, and drug-free lifestyle.
• Embrace modes of appearance and attire that reflect a professional presence.
• Adhere to GPTLHB policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Requirements

• Participates in Core Connections training and applies GPTLHB Core Connections concepts and practices in their work.
• Exemplify excellent customer service with tribal stakeholders, health board colleagues, program partners, service recipients, visitors and guests.
• Foster a work environment of wellness, courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness and respect.
• Relate well and work collaboratively with coworkers and all levels of staff in a professional manner.
• Familiarity and/or experience working with American Indian populations and respect for and knowledge of traditional, cultural and spiritual practices of diverse American Indian communities, as well as an ability to work with other culturally and ethnically diverse populations.
• Consistently demonstrate respect for and acceptance of differing capabilities, cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation and/or personalities.
• Maintain and ensure organizational privacy and confidentiality.
• Must be able to handle crisis and tolerate stress professionally.
• Must be self-directed and take proactive initiative to assist others.
• Possess the ability to resolve issues with other departments and coworkers without direct supervision.
• Able to exercise flexibility to alter plans/routines when situations require and continue to perform without projecting stress/frustration that would adversely affect the work environment.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including evenings, weekends and overnight or extended travel as necessary.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to community members, consumers and other employees of the organization.
• Proficiency with computer programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other Internet technologies.
• Valid driver’s license must be kept current, and certificates, credentials or licenses must be kept current and consistent with regulations required by applicable federal, state and/or grant regulations.
• Ability to promote an alcohol-, tobacco- and drug-free lifestyle.
• Embrace modes of appearance and attire that reflect a professional presence.
• Adhere to GPTCHB policies and procedures.

Supervisory Controls:
The supervisor provides administrative direction with assignments in terms of broadly defined goals or functions.

The employee usually has responsibility for independently planning, designing, and carrying out programs, projects, studies, or other work.

Results of the work are considered technically authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. If the work should be reviewed, the review concerns such matters as fulfillment of program objectives, effect of advice and influence on the overall program, or the contribution to the advancement of technology. Recommendations for new projects and alteration of objectives usually are evaluated for such considerations as the availability of funds and other resources, broad program goals, or established priorities.

Guidelines:

Guidelines include state and federal laws and regulations, OHC policies and procedures, OHC Medical Staff Bylaws, professional standards of medical practice, medical standing orders, and Centers or Medicare and Medicaid Services Conditions of Participation manual. These guidelines are not applicable to every situation encountered and require independent judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

Complexity:

The work typically includes varied duties that require many different and unrelated processes and methods, such as those relating to well-established aspects of an administrative or professional field. Decisions regarding what needs to be done include the assessment of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, and incomplete or conflicting data.

The work requires making many decisions concerning such things as interpretation of considerable data, planning of the work, or refinement of the methods and techniques to be used.

Scope and Effect:

The work involves treating a variety of conventional problems, questions, or situations in conformance with established criteria. The work product or service affects the design or operation of systems, programs, or equipment; the adequacy of such; the social, physical, and economic well-being of people; or the social or economic well-being of the organization.

Personal Contacts:

Contacts are typically with clinical providers, patients, employees, community resource agencies, patient family members, CDC, State Departments of Health, local Health Departments, Tribal Health programs, and the general public.

Purpose of Contacts:

Contacts are primarily for obtaining, furnishing, exchanging and providing factual medical information.

Physical Demands:

The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items, such as papers, books, or small parts; or driving an automobile. The employee must be able to read, write, speak, and hear.

Work Environment:

The work involves moderate risks or discomforts that require special safety precautions, e.g., working around moving parts, carts, or machines; exposure to contagious diseases or irritant chemicals. Employees may be required to use protective clothing or gear, such as masks, gowns, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility:

This is a non-supervisory position that may provide functional direction, guidance, and instruction to other employees when necessary. This position possesses the authority to assign, coordinate, and review the quality and quantity of work of other employees. Instruct employees in specific techniques or technical methods for accomplishing work assignments. The employee may perform the same type of work as other employees but may be responsible for the performance of the more technically difficult, controversial, or sensitive work assigned to the unit or group.

Qualifications:

• Must have a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Dental Medicine (DMD) from a school approved by the Council on Dental Education, American Dental Association (ADA), or other dental school.
• Must have a pediatric dentistry certification from an accredited organization.
• Post-licensure professional experience in the practice of pediatric dentistry.
• Must have a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in any U.S. State or Territory.
• Must obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required, or must be obtained within ninety (90) days of employment.

The GPTLHB is a tribal organization that follows tribal preference laws. Our policy is to give preference to qualified Indian/Tribal candidates overqualified non-native candidates in hiring decisions if all other qualifications are equal.

Employment is contingent upon the outcome of all required criminal background checks.