Pediatric Dentist - FQHC (Brooklyn)

Pediatric Dentist

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Position Summary

The Pediatric Dentist provides comprehensive, high-quality dental care to infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special healthcare needs in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) setting. This position is responsible for delivering preventive, restorative, and emergency dental services while promoting optimal oral health and creating positive, comfortable dental experiences for pediatric patients and their families.

The Pediatric Dentist will collaborate with dental, medical, behavioral health, and other care team members to deliver integrated, patient-centered care to a diverse and underserved population throughout the Brooklyn community.

The ideal candidate is a compassionate and clinically skilled pediatric dentist who is passionate about improving access to care, reducing oral health disparities, and providing quality dental services to children and families regardless of their ability to pay.

Essential Responsibilities

Clinical Care

• Provide comprehensive pediatric dental examinations, diagnoses, treatment planning, and follow-up care.

• Deliver preventive, restorative, and emergency dental services to infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special healthcare needs.

• Perform a broad range of pediatric dental procedures, including:

  • Comprehensive and periodic oral examinations and radiographs.

  • Preventive treatments, including fluoride applications and dental sealants.

  • Restorative dentistry, including fillings and stainless steel crowns.

  • Pulp therapy and other appropriate pediatric endodontic procedures.

  • Extractions and minor surgical procedures within the scope of practice.

  • Space maintenance and management of developing dentition.

  • Diagnosis and treatment of dental trauma and emergencies.

• Utilize appropriate behavior guidance and patient management techniques to facilitate safe, effective, and positive dental experiences.

• Identify and manage dental infections, pain, trauma, and other urgent oral health conditions.

• Recognize oral manifestations of systemic disease and coordinate appropriate medical or specialty referrals.

• Determine when treatment under sedation or general anesthesia is appropriate and coordinate care with qualified providers and facilities.

• Refer patients to oral surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, pediatric specialty services, and other healthcare professionals when clinically indicated.

Patient and Family Education

• Educate patients and parents/guardians on oral hygiene, nutrition, fluoride, sealants, caries prevention, and proper home care.

• Counsel families on early childhood caries prevention and the importance of establishing a dental home at an early age.

• Encourage preventive care and consistent dental visits.

• Communicate treatment recommendations, risks, benefits, and alternatives in a clear, compassionate, and culturally sensitive manner.

• Establish trusting relationships with pediatric patients and their families to encourage positive attitudes toward lifelong oral health.

Community Health and FQHC Responsibilities

• Deliver care consistent with the mission, values, policies, and clinical standards of the health center.

• Demonstrate a commitment to serving medically underserved and culturally diverse populations.

• Provide accessible, patient-centered care regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

• Participate in an integrated care model and collaborate with medical, behavioral health, and other providers when appropriate.

• Support care coordination for patients with complex medical, developmental, behavioral, or social needs.

• Participate in community outreach, oral health education, and preventive care initiatives as requested.

• Promote health equity and actively work to reduce barriers to pediatric oral healthcare.

Documentation and Quality

• Maintain timely, accurate, and complete clinical documentation within the electronic health record (EHR).

• Complete treatment plans, progress notes, referrals, prescriptions, and other required documentation in accordance with organizational policies.

• Comply with applicable FQHC, federal, state, and payer requirements.

• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, clinical audits, peer reviews, and performance improvement activities.

• Maintain appropriate clinical productivity and quality standards.

• Adhere to infection prevention, OSHA, HIPAA, patient safety, and other applicable regulatory requirements.

• Participate in dental department meetings, staff meetings, case reviews, and organizational initiatives as appropriate.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain current knowledge of pediatric dental techniques, evidence-based practices, and advances in children's oral healthcare.

• Maintain all required professional licenses, registrations, certifications, and continuing education requirements.

• Participate in professional development and continuing education activities.

• Contribute to a positive, respectful, and collaborative clinical environment.

• Provide clinical guidance, consultation, or mentorship to dental staff, students, residents, and other clinical personnel when applicable.

• Perform other duties consistent with the position and organizational needs.

Qualifications

Required

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited dental school.

• Completion of an accredited Pediatric Dentistry residency program.

• Current, unrestricted license to practice dentistry in New York State, or eligibility to obtain New York licensure.

• Current DEA registration or eligibility to obtain registration, as applicable.

• Current BLS/CPR certification.

• Demonstrated clinical competency in pediatric dentistry.

• Ability to obtain and maintain required payer credentialing and health center privileges.

Preferred

• Board certification or eligibility for certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD).

• Previous experience in an FQHC, community health center, public health, or other safety-net healthcare setting.

• Experience treating children with special healthcare needs.

• Experience serving patients from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Experience working within an integrated or interdisciplinary healthcare model.

• Fluency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken in the Brooklyn community.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong pediatric clinical, diagnostic, and treatment planning skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.

• Ability to establish rapport and build trust with children and their families.

• Strong behavior management and patient engagement skills.

• Commitment to preventive dentistry and evidence-based clinical practices.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

• Cultural sensitivity and a demonstrated commitment to health equity.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Ability to manage a busy clinical schedule while maintaining high-quality, patient-centered care.

• Sound clinical judgment and the ability to appropriately manage pediatric dental emergencies.

• Commitment to continuous quality improvement and professional development.

Work Environment

The Pediatric Dentist will primarily work in a clinical dental setting and may be required to sit, stand, walk, and perform clinical procedures for extended periods. The position involves the use of standard dental equipment and personal protective equipment, with adherence to all applicable infection prevention and workplace safety requirements.

The role may involve treating patients with behavioral, developmental, medical, or physical limitations and requires the ability to provide safe, appropriate care within the dentist's scope of practice and the health center's clinical capabilities.