General Dentist

Schedule 1 - General Dentist

Job Level: Provider

Reports To: Dental Director

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Dental Director, the General Dentist provides comprehensive, high-quality oral healthcare services to patients of Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation (BTCMF), a HRSA Look-Alike community health center.

The General Dentist diagnoses, treats, and manages a full range of dental conditions in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, HRSA Health Center Program requirements, and nationally accepted standards of dental practice.

This role supports BTCMF’s mission to deliver compassionate, culturally responsive care to medically underserved and low-income populations while promoting preventive oral health and disease management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Examine and review patients’ medical and dental histories.
• Perform comprehensive oral examinations and screenings.
• Interpret dental radiographs and diagnostic tests.
• Diagnose dental conditions and develop comprehensive treatment plans.
• Remove tooth decay and place appropriate restorations (sealants, glass ionomer, composite, amalgam, etc.).
• Perform extractions, root canal therapy (as applicable), and minor surgical procedures within scope.
• Design, fit, and adjust dental prosthetics including crowns, bridges, and dentures.
• Provide periodontal treatment including scaling and root planing.
• Apply preventive treatments such as fluoride and sealants.
• Prescribe medications within scope of licensure.
• Provide patient education on oral hygiene, disease prevention, and maintenance care.
• Ensure thorough and timely documentation of diagnoses, procedures, and treatment plans in the electronic dental record (EDR).
• Supervise dental assistants, hygienists, and support staff as applicable.
• Respond to and manage after-hour emergency calls.

Regulatory & Compliance Responsibilities

• Comply with all BTCMF policies and procedures.
• Adhere to all federal, state, and local dental practice regulations.
• Maintain compliance with HRSA Health Center Program requirements.
• Participate in Quality Improvement (QI), peer review, and chart audits.
• Maintain accurate and complete dental records in accordance with regulatory standards.
• Follow infection control, OSHA, and safety guidelines.

Confidentiality & Professional Standards

• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information in accordance with HIPAA and applicable laws.
• Maintain professional relationships and boundaries with patients and staff.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and professionalism in all interactions.
• Promote a safe, respectful, and team-based care environment.

Organizational Support

• Participate in staff meetings and required trainings.
• Support integration of dental services within primary care (medical-dental integration).
• Provide clinical guidance and in-service education when requested.
• Provide coverage at other BTCMF clinic locations as needed to support patient access and organizational operations.
• Provide occasional clinical coverage for the BTCMF Dental Mobile Unit, including community outreach events and off-site service locations, as assigned.
• Perform additional duties within scope of licensure as assigned.

HRSA Quality Metrics, Productivity & Panel Expectations

As a provider within a HRSA Look-Alike Health Center, the General Dentist is expected to meet clinical quality, access, and productivity standards consistent with HRSA Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting requirements and BTCMF performance benchmarks.