One thing’s for sure, dentists need many skills to do their job. The job description can attract the right dentist or maybe even the wrong one. So let’s make sure you’re attracting the right one!

A good description will emphasize the skills and experience you’re looking for while telling the job candidate enough about yourself and your practice to help motivate them to apply. It should also provide enough details about the position to screen out anyone who doesn’t qualify based on education, requirements, days, hours, pay, or benefits. This will help save you time by not wasting your time interviewing applicants who aren’t a good fit.

Dentist Job Description Example

Our well-established dental practice has an amazing opportunity for an associate dentist. This opportunity is at our state-of-the-art dental practice in Phoenix and is a full-time position.

The ideal candidate is reliable, possesses excellent communication skills, performs top-quality dentistry, and is comfortable with all facets of dentistry, including examinations, reading x-rays, fillings, sealants, molar endo, and surgical extractions. Proficiency with x-ray machines, drills, lasers, digital scanners, and other technologies is essential. The dentist should be self-motivated, possess excellent clinical and communication skills, and be comfortable meeting production goals. The ability to supervise additional staff, including dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratory technicians, and receptionists, is also a plus.

The dentist will perform oral examinations, including x-rays of teeth and gums. As needed, will perform various dental procedures, including fillings, repairs, sealants, cleanings, extractions, and whitening. Supervision of staff and administrative paperwork will also be required.

A DDS or DMD degree and license to practice dentistry in Arizona are required, with a minimum of 2 years of experience as a dentist.

This is a full-time position Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with major holidays off. Salary is up to $200,000/yr with bonuses. Benefits include health insurance, with dental and vision. 

Related: How to develop a job description (SHRM)

Elements of a Strong Dentist Job Description 

Let’s break down the example. Here are some key components to a job description that will strengthen your job post, attract the right candidates, and get quality applicants.

• Intro paragraph: Include information about what you are looking for and about your office and team. You may want to include aspects of your culture and mission statement. This is your opportunity to catch the candidate’s attention.
• Ideal candidate statement: Here’s your opportunity to describe your ideal candidate. What are the top skills and attributes you’re seeking? List them here.
• Responsibilities: This answers the question: what will I do each day? And it provides an excellent opportunity for the candidate to assess if they qualify for the job by looking at the things they will be responsible for.
• Education, training, and experience: This section helps candidates know if they meet your standards for education and training.
• Skills and qualifications: This section supports the responsibilities section and helps candidates understand exactly what skills they should have to do the job.
• Hours: Don’t wait until the interview to let candidates know what to expect. Putting the days and hours on your job description will help you weed out people who can’t work those hours before you waste time on an interview.
• Pay and Benefits: At least provide a salary range. Listing benefits can help attract better candidates. For applicants, benefits can be a make-or-break deal, so it’s better to know upfront before everyone wastes their time on an interview to find out that there are no benefits, and that’s a deal-breaker.
• Recap (Job type, salary, benefits, location): Recap the information related to job type (full-time, part-time), salary, benefits, and location for ease of viewing

Looking to make your resume stand out? Take a look at these 13 key components from Forbes.

Dentist Job Description Template

Here’s a dentist job description template to help. Just fill in the blanks!

Our well-established dental practice has an amazing opportunity for a ___________ who is _______ and ________. This opportunity is at our state-of-the-art dental practice in _________ and is a __________(part-time, full-time) position. 

We are __________________, looking for______________ that wants to take great care of patients while growing year-over-year. 

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is __________________ and possesses ____________ skills to perform top-quality dentistry and is comfortable with all facets of dentistry, including ________ and ____________. 

Responsibilities:

The dentist will _______________.

Education, training, and experience:

DDS or DMD degree and license to practice dentistry in _______(state).

Minimum _____ year(s) experience as a dentist.

Skills and qualifications:

Must have at least ___ years of dental experience, be _____, ______, and __________.

Hours: ____________ (Example: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon-Fri)

Pay and Benefits:

Compensation is guaranteed at ____________________. 

Job Type: Full-time (4-5 days) 

Salary: ________(provide a range) per year 

Benefits: ____________(Examples: Health insurance, Dental, Vision) 

Location: __________

Types of Dentists and Their Job Description

While most dentist jobs are for general dentists, there are other types of dentists that may be needed. Here are a few, along with their descriptions.

Dental Anesthesiologists

A dental anesthesiologist attends medical surgeries and administers drugs (anesthesia) for dental surgery. Monitors sedated patients to keep them safe and help patients manage pain after surgery. 

Dental Public Health Specialists

Dental Public Health Specialists promote dental health and prevention within communities. 

Endodontists

Endodontists treat many causes of tooth pain and typically perform root canal treatments to relieve pain or help injured or infected teeth. 

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologists 

An oral and maxillofacial radiologist specializes in the interpretation of x-rays and other imaging technology to help diagnose diseases in the head and neck. 

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat diseases, injuries, and defects of the mouth, jaws, teeth, gums, neck, and head, performing surgical procedures. Examples include repairing a cleft lip and removing impacted teeth. 

Oral Pathologists

Oral pathologists may research and examine diseases affecting various regions of the face and mouth. They may specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases such as bumps, ulcers, cancer, or other oral diseases. 

Orthodontists

Orthodontists work with the alignment of the jaw and the cosmetic appearance of teeth. Often orthodontists are known for straightening teeth by applying pressure to the teeth with retainers, braces, or Invisalign. 

Pediatric Dentists

Pediatric dentists specialize in working with dentistry for infants, children, teens, and other special-needs patients. 

Periodontists

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation of the gums and bones, also known as gum disease. Periodontists specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating periodontal disease and supporting healthy gums and bones that support the teeth.

Post Your Dentist Job

Now that you have the perfect dentist job description, post your job to Princess Dental Staffing to find the perfect dentist to fill your job.

Princess Dental Staffing offers qualified, pre-screened candidates with dental experience. Whether you need a full-time, part-time, or temporary dentist, your patients and team will love our dentists.

Get started with a free job posting on Princess Dental Staffing.

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