The General Dentist will provide comprehensive dental care and education to patients while contributing to the clinical and educational mission of the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. This position supports the College’s commitment to advancing health equity by delivering high-quality, compassionate dental services and guiding dental students in clinical excellence and ethical practice.

Essential Functions (Principal Duties and Job Responsibilities):

• Supervise, mentor and teach dental students and residents in clinical settings, ensuring quality care, adherence to clinical protocols, and alignment with Meharry’s educational curriculum and objectives.
• Provide clinical and didactic instructions to students, residents and faculty.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to develop and implement clinical curricula and best practices that integrate evidence-based dentistry and promote health equity.
• Maintain accurate and thorough patient records in compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations, including HIPAA and infection control standards.
• Participate in departmental meetings, professional development, and continuing education to support institutional goals and personal professional growth.
• Engage in community outreach and service-learning activities to include but not limited to the mobile unit, external sites, community events, etc. that align with Meharry’s mission to improve oral health and access to care for underserved populations.
• Technology Integration in the delivery of patient care: Support and actively engage in the use of digital platforms to provide comprehensive dental therapy within the team model of patient care. Demonstrate commitment toward remaining informed and up to date of emerging technologies, evaluating their potential impact, and facilitating integration into clinical and educational initiatives.

• Contribute to quality assurance and improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes, clinical operations, and educational effectiveness.
• Provide instructions, guidance and enhance learning in comprehensive dental care including diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of restorative, preventive, prosthetic, endodontic, and surgical dental services for students and residents learning in the School of Dentistry clinics.
• Integral contributor that will support and track student progress for assigned course coverage. This is inclusive of, but not limited to the following: clinical experience progression (Clinical Team meeting), regional licensure preparation, final clinical competency, and multidisciplinary case defense presentation/review.

             

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Comprehensive knowledge of general dentistry principles, procedures, and current best practices.
• Strong clinical judgment and diagnostic abilities.
• Ability to supervise and teach dental students effectively in a clinical setting.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary academic environment.
• Demonstrated professional demeanor, integrity, and respect for students, residents and patient confidentiality.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Preferred:

• Experience working in an academic, teaching, or clinical training environment.
• Familiarity with electronic health records (EHR) systems and digital dentistry technologies.
• Research interest or experience in public health, community dentistry, or health disparities.
• Bilingual or multilingual proficiency to enhance patient communication and outreach.

Education and Experience Required:

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an American dental Association accredited dental school.
• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience in general dentistry or completion of an accredited general practice residency (GPR) or advanced education in general dentistry (AEGD) program.

Education and Experience Preferred:

• Prior experience in dental education or academic settings.
• Participation in research, community-based dental programs, or public health initiatives.

Licensure, Certification or Registration Required:

• Current, unrestricted Tennessee dental license or eligibility for licensure in Tennessee.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Licensure, Certification or Registration Preferred:

• DEA registration for the prescribing of controlled substances.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Board certification by an American Dental Association Dental Specialty, the American Board of General Dentistry (ABGD); or eligibility preferred.