How to hire a dental officer

How to hire a dental officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dental officer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a dental officer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new dental officer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The dental officer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A dental officer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, dental officers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of dental officers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Dental Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Dental Officer	Dental assistants perform many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.	$28-62
   Dental Nurse	A Dental Nurse assists dentists in carrying out different kinds of oral-care procedures. They look after patient records and make notes when the dentist is examining a patient.	$24-61

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Oral Surgery
   • Dentures
   • Dental Program
   • Infection Control
   • Dental Services
   • Dental Procedures
   • Oral Diseases
   • Comprehensive Dental Care
   • Dental Assistants
   • Direct Patient Care
   • Surgical Procedures
   • Dental Problems
   • Dental Health Care

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide comprehensive dental care for diverse patients
   • Admit patients and attend to their in-patient dental emergencies
   • Assist in oral surgery under local and twilight anesthesia in a private practice setting.Primary IV starter and administer anesthetics on command.
   • Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and operate resuscitation equipment.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your dental officer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A dental officer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, dental officers' average salary in mississippi is 41% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level dental officers 54% less than senior-level dental officers.
   • Certifications. A dental officer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a dental officer's salary.

   Average dental officer salary

   $88,980yearly

   $42.78 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level dental officer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 24, 2026

4. Writing a dental officer job description

   A good dental officer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a dental officer job description:

   Dental officer job description example

   Type:Tribal
   
   Salary Range:$189,714 - $224,767 / Per Year
   
   Open Period:9/12/2022 to 12/16/2022
   
   Summary:Pit River Health Service, Inc.(PRHS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) ambulatory health clinic first established in 1979. The purpose of PRHS is to serve the community and to primarily focus on the American Indian population. Services offered: Medical, Dental, and behavioral health services, transportation, outreach, and senior nutrition services. PRHS has two clinics, one is located at the base of the Burney Mountain in Burney,Ca and the other is located on the Pit River Tribal reservation in Alturas, Ca. We are open to take Native and non-Native patients and accept Medi-Cal, Partnership, Medicare, and most private insurances. We value all our patients and as our mission statement says we provide the highest quality healthcare services to them.
   
   Duties:Specific Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Supervise Dental Program staff in accordance with Personnel Policy. Assign, review and evaluate staff and their performances to ensure an adequate quantity and quality of work. Advise, counsel, and discipline all Dental Department professional providers. 2. Responsible for matters relating to patient care; education and training of dental staff and patients; administration of Dental Program; and carrying out responsibilities and functions as directed by Executive Director. 3. Manages and creates schedules for both clinics, XL and Burney. Coordinates staff travel for pt care at satellite clinic. 4. Plans equipment purchases and anticipates needs for both clinics. 5. Perform and oversee general dental procedures such as restorative dentistry, fixed and removable prosthetics, periodontics, pedodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, and minor orthodontics. Reviews work of providers, Staff Dentist and Hygienist for standard of care. This includes, x-ray review, hands on evaluation of work recently completed and review of chart notes and postings. 6. Examines patients requesting care, diagnoses their dental/oral conditions, prescribes and carries out, or directs others in carrying out appropriate dental treatment, or refers patients for specialty consultation and treatment in conformance with approved clinical policies. 7. Services are limited to privileged services by provider. 8. Approves patient-dentist signed chart notes as they occur in the patient's dental record so that the dental record accurately and completely reflects the nature of the contact, the condition of the patient and the care or treatment provided. In addition, as the Dentist he/she shall complete referrals, data collections and other records as required periodically by PRHS. 9. Allow Dental Program staff to participate in training continuing education that are required to keep licenses current; health and safety courses. 10. Develop Dental Program's goals and objectives and check progress periodically to ensure completion. 11. Coordinate Orthodontic and Community Prevention Programs; provide assistance such as: school screening, follow-ups, or consultation to staff or parents. Screen Orthodontic patients for appropriate preparation for care in accordance with the Dental Policy. 12. Provide In-Service training for staff and other health professionals on dental health, safety, and new developments. 13. Performs provider Peer Review per AAAHC standards. 14. Plan and ensure GPRA measures are met by Dental Department. 15. Designs, develops, and implements appropriate Dental Department policies, protocols and procedures which are in compliance with the most current accepted professional standards. Update Dental Program's policies and procedures annually. 16. Reviews and approves PRC referrals according to dental and PRC policy 17. Review pre- and post-treatment claims for offsite dental care providers. 18. Maintain a clear line of communication, cooperation, and good morale in Dental Program. Establish harmonious and positive working relationships with other departments. 19. To develop good rapport with patients and the community. 20. Prepares and submits monthly written reports on Dental Department issues, concerns, program status, initiatives, and progress to the Executive Director and the Health Board. Prepares specific reports as requested by the Executive Director. 21. Assists in the preparation of an operating budget for the Dental Department and in conjunction with the Chief Financial Officer. Oversees compliance with the Dental Department's budget. 22. Manages assigned grant programs. 23. Maintains dental medications according to applicable standards. 24. Responsible for department incident reporting using the proper policies and procedures. 25. Participates in Pit River Health general staff meetings and department meetings as assigned. 26. Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.
   
   Qualifications:Qualifications: 1. Graduation from an ADA-accredited Dental School with DDS or D.M.D. degree. 2. Graduate of college or university with B.S. or B.A. degree or higher. 3. Current Dental license. 4. Current DEA license 5. Current on Continuing Dental Education units as required by license. At least one year professional or practical experience, internship, or residency training. 6. At least 2 years supervisory experience strongly desired. 7. Good knowledge of all applicable federal, state, local and clinic rules, regulations, protocols and procedures governing the practice of dentistry. 8. Must have good customer service skills and the ability to navigate tough situations with poise. 9. Preference given to Native Americans in accordance with P.L. 93-63. 10. Must be willing to submit to and pass pre-employment drug screening test. 11. Possess a current CPR card. Typical Physical Demands: Prolonged sitting or standing may be required. Those physical movements and the degree of mobility normally associated with the practice of primary care dentistry will be performed on a repetitive basis. The ability to distinguish letters and symbols, as well as the ability to utilize telephones, computer terminals, and copiers is required. Work under stressful conditions connected to the performance of dental procedures is required. Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, radiation and other conditions common to a clinical environment may routinely be encountered. OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Classification: Category I
   
   Work Type:Permanent, Full
   
   Announcement #:02_PRHS-CDO

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right dental officer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with dental officers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit dental officers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your dental officer job on Zippia to find and attract quality dental officer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit dental officers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new dental officer

   Once you've selected the best dental officer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new dental officer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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