Community Oral Health Officer

Role Overview

This position carries the clinical load of a busy dental clinic, moving between chairside treatment, diagnostic imaging and preventive care across a full patient list. Beyond hands-on dentistry, the role keeps the clinic functioning day to day by supervising support staff, controlling the ordering of equipment and supplies, and maintaining accurate records and books. The work matters because it directly determines how quickly patients are seen, how well oral disease is caught early, and whether the clinic's standards of sterilization, documentation and cost control hold up under pressure.

Key Responsibilities

• Screen and assess patients presenting with a wide range of oral complaints, reviewing medical history, charting dental status and identifying treatment needs before care begins.
• Take, process and mount radiographs, and trace films where corrective treatment planning requires it, interpreting findings to support accurate diagnosis.
• Deliver routine treatment and care for conditions affecting teeth and surrounding tissue, using established hygienist techniques and the clinic's specified instruments and equipment.
• Scale, brush and polish teeth to remove plaque and stains, maintaining sterile working conditions at every stage of the appointment.
• Carry out restorative and surgical procedures including cavity filling, rebuilding fractured teeth, replacing missing teeth and extracting teeth that are damaged beyond repair.
• Diagnose, treat and help patients prevent gum disease, advising on home care routines and writing prescriptions where clinically indicated.
• Produce impressions for study casts, document chief complaints, clinical observations and dental history, and record laboratory procedures while following up on results.
• Oversee clinic staff and workflows, recommend cost-effective purchases of equipment and supplies, keep associated bookkeeping in order, and stay current with developments in the profession.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Diploma in Community Oral Health or an equivalent recognised qualification.
• Active membership with a recognised professional body.
• At least one year of hands-on experience in a busy dental clinic environment.
• Ability to complete patient appointments within a 30-minute turnaround without compromising care quality.
• Extended knowledge of crown and bridge cutting techniques.
• Strong patient management skills, including the ability to keep a full schedule flowing smoothly and put anxious patients at ease.