7/1/74 B

Provides dental and oral hygiene services as a part of the dental program of the Department of Health. Performs normal dental services in addition to making arrangements for holding dental clinics and performing dental health education functions. Dental services may include minor oral surgery, prosthodontia, crown and bridge work, and interceptive orthodontia when approval has been requested and obtained by the Dental Health Director. Technical supervision is received from the Dental Health Director or a supervisory public health dentist who designates the scope and type of work and evaluates the quality of completed work. Administrative supervision is received from Public Health Officers who make major decisions pertaining to Department of Health policy.

Examples of duties characteristic of positions in this class:

1. Makes oral examinations, charts patients' cavities, sends charts to parents of children needing dental care, extracts teeth, prepares cavities and fills them with appropriate materials, administers oral prophylactics, and applies sodium fluoride to teeth of school children under prescribed age or grade levels.

2. Collects prescribed fees from patients, prepares records of name and fee for each patient, and transmits money and records to the Dental Health Director.

3. Requisitions and maintains dental equipment and supplies used in the operation of a dental clinic.

4. Gives talks and demonstrations on dental health before schools and civic groups.

5. Confers with the local school officials to arrange space for dental equipment and to plan clinic schedules so as to assure complete coverage of school children.

6. Supervises and instructs, by demonstration, newly appointed public health dentists and Dental Assistants in the performance of dental services to children.

Graduation from an accredited school of dentistry, two years of experience in the practice of dentistry, and a license to practice as a dentist in the State or eligibility therefor. Eighteen months of experience as a Public Health Dentist Trainee may be substituted for the two years of required experience.

Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of preventive and corrective dentistry and oral hygiene; some knowledge of the dental health program of the Department of Health; ability to promote interest in a local dental health program; ability to handle children and conduct dental health programs in schools.