Correctional Dentist

Job ID: 26824
Agency: Department of Health - Correctional Health
Location: Springfield & Yankton
Salary: Negotiable - depending on experience and hours worked
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

*** $10,000 Hiring Incentive! ***

*** Current State Employees do NOT qualify for the Hiring Incentive ***

*** Full state benefits and SDRS retirement ***

This position provides routine and emergency dental care, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment to offenders incarcerated within the South Dakota Department of Corrections (SDDOC) and is an integral part of our clinical services team.

Why the Department of Corrections?
As a Department of Corrections employee, you will have a chance to experience the following:

• Creativity – We are always looking for innovative ideas to help us achieve improved outcomes.
• Making a difference – You will have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of fellow South Dakotans.
• Professional development – We provide valuable trainings to ensure well-trained staff that is competent, accountable, and empowered and will assist you in reaching your career goals.
• Teamwork – In a team-oriented approach, you will have the ability to work cooperatively with others in a friendly work environment to achieve shared goals.
• Public safety – your contributions will help keep the state of South Dakota and fellow South Dakotans safe.

What you will do:

 

• Provide treatment to preserve and restore the natural teeth, remove decayed teeth, and appropriate replacements.
  • Provide oral health education.
  • Provide examinations and consultations.
  • Interpret dental radiographs.
  • Restore carious teeth within dental program guidelines.
  • Diagnose gum disease.
  • Restore damaged teeth and gums.
  • Provide basic oral surgery.
  • Provide endodontics.
  • Provide dental prosthetics care and treatment within guidelines of dental program prosthetic policy.
  • Prescribe medications.
  • Classify offenders according to the clinical classification system and documentation in the electronic health record.
  • Respond to on-call dental emergencies.
• Functions as a liaison between the dental office and custody staff to ensure that offenders are seen in a timely and efficient manner.
• Provides dental care education and instruction to offenders to reduce dental health problems.
• Uses electronic health records to document any dental care provided to offender; ensuring thorough documentation and accurate records are maintained.
• Provides work direction to dental assistants and dental hygienists to ensure adequate offender dental care.
• Assists with the quality assurance program to ensure offenders are receiving all necessary and appropriate care.
• Assists with facility accreditation.
• Provides report to Health Services Administrator and/or Chief Dentist as needed.
• Attends on-site administrative meetings as needed.
• Performs other work as assigned.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Awarded a DDS/DMD degree from a CODA-approved dental school.
• Ability to obtain an unrestricted Dentist license from the South Dakota Board of Dentistry.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

Knowledge of:

• the principles and techniques of dental examination, diagnoses, and dental surgery;
• OSHA guidelines on infection control;
• x-ray exposure and interpreting x-rays
• head-and-neck anatomy and physiology;
• oral cancer screening and diagnosis;
• OTC medications and contraindications;
• basic computer skills

Ability to:

• provide work direction and/or supervision to other dental professionals;
• provide reports;
• triage dental conditions/emergencies;
• handle on-call emergencies;
• diagnose and treat dental diseases;
• calm nervous offenders;
• make good decisions regarding dental needs;
• explain the fundamentals of dental care and oral hygiene to offenders;
• communicate information clearly and concisely;
• establish and maintain effective relationships with offenders, coworkers, and professional staff;
• communicate information clearly and concisely;
• create a treatment plan for the offender;
• provide oral health education to offenders.

Conditions of Employment:

• With or without reasonable accommodations, successfully pass all modules of the South Dakota Department of Corrections Basic Training, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics and firearms/armed transport curriculum;
• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete Defensive Tactics;
  • Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
  • Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;
  • Use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows;
  • Withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows;
  • Swing a baton in a striking technique;
  • Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;
  • Get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions;
• Will be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum during Basic Training and will be exposed while on assignment;
• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security;
• Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;
• Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;
• Must be able to work 12 hour rotating shifts to include holidays and weekends;
• Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations;
• Deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner;
• Work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders;
• Communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments;
• Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;
• Willing and able to travel;
• Willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule;
• TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire;

Additional Requirements: Please attach a Curriculum Vitae and South Dakota License with your application.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.
This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers employer paid health insurance plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://sodakprod-lm01.cloud.infor.com:1443/lmghr/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=PJC
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"