State of Maryland

A Dentist III, Community Health is in overall charge of the dental health program within a local health department.  The classification determining factor for positions in this classification is dental program responsibility in a local health department.  Employees in this classification do not supervise. 

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a designated health care professional or higher-level administrator.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.  Employees may be required to restrain clients displaying violent or aggressive behavior.  The work may require the lifting of non-ambulatory patients.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Dentist III, Community Health is differentiated from a Dentist II in that the Dentist III, Community Health is in overall charge of the community dental health program within a local health department, while the Dentist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Directs and coordinates day-to-day operations of a community health dental program for a local health department;

Develops, implements, and administers innovative program goals and submits yearly budget proposals in order to meet the public health dental needs of county residents;

Designs and implements public health dental programs to address dental needs;

Submits an annual program plan and performance statement for review by local and State level authorities;

Conducts epidemiologic studies to determine prevalence and severity of dental disease;

Analyzes collected data in order to note irregularities in the fluoride levels of the designated county public water supply and makes recommendations to the appropriate health official;

Purchases equipment and supplies for the dental program and maintains equipment in the optimal condition;

Develops, implements and maintains a dental health education program for designated county public schools;

Conducts oral examinations of patients and obtains dental radiographs in order to make proper diagnoses;

Provides and supervises general dental care to patients including restorative, surgical, periodontal, endodontic, prosthetic and emergency dental procedures;

Determines the need and prescribes medications for pain and infection for clinic patients;

Prescribes fluoride therapy as a preventive measure for clinic patients;

Consults frequently with physicians and nurses regarding care, treatment and medical condition of patients in order to determine patients’ suitability for dental treatment;

Refers patients to outside facilities for procedures beyond the scope of general dentistry;

Reviews and prepares patients’ records, such as dental history and dental treatment plan for each new admission into that program;

Reviews appointment schedules to assure periodic examinations of patients;

Attends staff meetings and participates in diagnostic and treatment discussions, lectures, seminars, workshops, and case presentations in order to maintain a continual awareness of current practices, procedures and policies in the field of dentistry;

May perform prophylaxis procedures and provide oral hygiene instructions to clinic patients; 

May act as dental consultant to various local agencies;

May recruit dental health personnel assigned to the dental health program;

Performs other related duties.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.