Dentist - ECRH - Mobile Unit

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Job Title:
Dentist - ECRH - Mobile Unit
Agency:

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Job Requisition ID:
JR0000005619
Shift:
Day (United States of America)
Compensation Details:
$160,000 - $170,000

Job Description:

Director, Mobile Dental Clinic (Lead Dentist)

Location:  Based at East Central Regional Hospital – Gracewood Campus (Augusta, GA) - Daily Travel across 26 Rural Counties within DBHDD’s Region 2 Area

Position Overview

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) is seeking a compassionate, skilled Director & Lead Dentist to oversee clinical operations and drive the mission of our Mobile Dental Clinic.

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) living in rural Georgia face steep barriers to oral healthcare—including long travel distances, sensory sensitivities, physical inaccessibility, and a critical shortage of specialized providers. Without timely care, these individuals face high rates of preventable pain, infection, and emergency department visits.

The DBHDD Mobile Dental Clinic exists to dismantle these barriers. Operating from our home base at the Gracewood campus in Augusta, our mobile unit travels daily across 26 rural counties within DBHDD’s Region 2, delivering high-quality, patient-centered care directly to IDD Day Service Centers and community facilities.

As Director, you will combine direct clinical delivery with operational leadership—guiding a dedicated care team, maintaining rigorous clinical standards, and serving as a champion for health equity across rural Georgia.

Why Lead This Mission?

- Meaningful, Purpose-Driven Work: Provide essential preventive, restorative, and surgical care directly to an underserved population in familiar environments that minimize patient anxiety.
- Clinical Autonomy Without Private Practice Overhead: Focus 100% of your energy on patient outcomes and team leadership without the pressures of billing quotas or practice management overhead.
- Predictable Schedule & State Benefits: Enjoy a structured, daytime travel schedule along with comprehensive State of Georgia employment benefits, paid leave, and robust retirement options.
- Student Loan Forgiveness: This position qualifies for loan repayment assistance through the Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce, offering up to $25,000 per year for up to four years ($100,000 total) to help eliminate your educational debt while you serve.

Key Responsibilities & Expectations

Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment

- Examine teeth, gums, and related oral tissues using dental instruments, X-rays, and diagnostic equipment to evaluate oral health, diagnose abnormalities, and formulate individual treatment plans.
- Diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders, diseases, injuries, and malformations of the teeth, gums, and mouth structures.
- Perform restorative dentistry, endodontic procedures (filling pulp chambers and canals with endodontic materials), simple surgical interventions, and treat tissue diseases affecting tooth vitality.
- Design, fit, and place prosthodontic appliances (bridges, dentures, space maintainers) or write technical prescriptions for dental technicians.
- Formulate and write prescriptions for antibiotics, pain management, and other necessary medications.
- Utilize air turbine and hand instruments, specialized dental appliances, and surgical implements under strict infection control standards (masks, gloves, protective eyewear).

Patient Education & Advocacy

- Advise and instruct patients, care givers, and facility staff regarding preventive oral care, treatment plans, and ongoing oral hygiene management.
- Utilize sensory-friendly and adaptive communication approaches tailored to adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities.

Clinical Leadership & Operational Oversight

- Supervise, guide, and direct the daily work assignments and workload of subordinate support staff (dental hygienists, assistants).
- Train and mentor subordinate staff on proper clinical and operational procedures for day-to-day mobile clinic workflows.
- Design, coordinate, and oversee internal clinic operational projects and safety protocols on the mobile unit.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

This position requires active physical mobility and comfort with traveling and operating equipment outside of a standard office setting:

- Vehicle Operation & Travel: Operate a mobile clinic vehicle (16-foot box truck equipped with a Tommy Gate), including fueling and routine operational checks.
- Equipment Transport: Push and pull wheeled dental unit carts from parking lots into partner facilities; carry supplies and equipment weighing up to 30 pounds.
- Patient Transfers: Assist team members in safely transferring patients (including individuals with high BMI) from wheelchairs or scooters to the dental chair (training provided).
- Clinical Demands: Remain standing or sitting for prolonged periods during procedures; perform repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements typical of clinical dentistry; maneuver body positions as needed to accomplish clinical tasks.
- Environmental Exposure: Experience variable outdoor temperature conditions during equipment loading, unloading, and site transitions.

Qualifications & Credentials

Minimum Qualifications

- Education: Doctorate or professional degree in dentistry (DDS/DMD) from an accredited college or university.
- Licensure: Current, active license to practice dentistry in the State of Georgia.
- Experience: Minimum of one (1) year of professional clinical dentistry experience.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

- Special Populations Experience: Work experience serving individuals with intellectual, developmental, or complex physical and behavioral needs.
- Travel Flexibility: Flexibility to travel daily across the 26-county region, with availability for occasional overnight trips to other regions in Georgia as needed.
- Leadership Ability: Strong communication, team management, and problem-solving skills adaptable to a mobile healthcare delivery model.

Minimum Qualifications:
Doctorate or professional degree in dentistry from an accredited college or university and three (3) years of experience at the lower level Dentist 3 (HCP132) or position equivalent and current Georgia license to practice dentistry.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The State of Georgia does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected categories in employment or the provision of services.
Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation when needed during the application and/or screening process by contacting the appropriate agency Human Resources department.