Union City Dental Faculty Volunteers

Be a champion for community dentistry. As vulnerable populations lose access to care, it becomes more important than ever that those who can lend their skills and passion to serving their communities step forward, live their values, and advance our mission. If you have this calling, La Clínica is the place for you. Join the La Clínica family and work shoulder to shoulder with some of the most dedicated dental professionals you’ll meet. The sense of teamwork, commitment to our community, and our dedication to giving our diverse patients the high-quality dental care they deserve, will inspire you. You will be rewarded by your work with patients whose families choose La Clínica generation after generation. You will see the impact of your efforts as well as those of your colleagues in the faces of our patients. You will further your professional development through opportunities for mentorship, leadership, and continuing education designed to expand your reach as a mission-driven dental provider. We offer robust perks including educational leave plus stipend, FTCA malpractice coverage, and flexible work schedules. In addition, we are a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) approved site for tax free loan repayment. Our clinics are located in the thriving Bay Area known for its cultural diversity, beautiful weather, highly sought after schools and year-round recreational activities.

Major Areas of Responsibility include but are not limited to:

Dental Care Delivery

• Direct supervision of dental residents or students providing patient care
• Provide direct patient care as required
• Treat oral diseases and confer with physicians regarding medical/dental problems
• Assign patients to plaque control or other educational programs
• Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatment
• Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
• Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
• Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue
• Respond to consults by dental clinic providers
• Ensure residents and self follow standards of care and La Clinica policies on clinical care, safety, risk management, infection control, OSHA, and other regulations as applicable.

Patient Experience

• Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases
• Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services
• Refer patients for general and specialty dental care or medical consultation as required.
• Ortho: Design, make, or fit orthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers and removable orthodontic appliances, write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for the same.

Mentorship & Collaboration

• Serve as a member of a cross-functional team of Dentists that provides exceptional patient care, and performs four-handed dentistry and oral surgery.
• Keep clinical and other records regarding services provided, supplies and materials used.

Minimum Job Requirements

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measure
• Good time management skills and evidence-based approaches to dental care
• Patient Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing patient services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of patient satisfaction.
• Healthcare Technology: Working knowledge and experience with Practice Management System software

Abilities

• Ability to deal courteously and effectively with patients and maintain good working relationships with other staff
• Ability to operate standard types of dental equipment and machinery
• Ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects
• Ability to appropriately respond to adverse treatment reactions, treatment outcomes, or medical emergencies
• English/Spanish proficiency preferred but not required

Experience and Other Certifications

• Requires graduation from an accredited school of dentistry; Possession of valid D.D.S. /D.M.D.
• One year experience in all phases of general dentistry and auxiliary utilization and/or administrative experience in a clinic setting
• License to practice in the State of California
• DEA number
• Cultural competence working in diverse/low-income communities

La Clínica reserves the right to release a volunteer for failure to uphold the Volunteer Service