Dentist

Role Overview

This dentist position provides day-to-day clinical and preventive dental care in a hospital-based dental clinic, treating both admitted patients and those attending outpatient appointments. Working under the clinical direction of the Medical Director, the dentist diagnoses oral health conditions, carries out treatment, and helps patients understand how to maintain healthy teeth and gums. The role is important because prompt dental care can relieve pain, support recovery, and improve the overall care experience for people using the hospital’s services.

Key Responsibilities

• Examine patients’ oral health by reviewing medical histories, performing clinical assessments, and ordering or interpreting dental imaging when needed.
• Diagnose dental, oral, and related conditions, then develop and explain treatment plans that suit each patient’s clinical needs and circumstances.
• Carry out routine and urgent dental procedures within general dental practice, including fillings, extractions, and management of dental infections or trauma.
• Provide preventive care such as oral hygiene instruction, fluoride application, sealants, and counselling on habits that affect oral health.
• Conduct dental reviews for inpatients and outpatients, coordinating with other clinical teams when oral health concerns affect a patient’s wider medical treatment.
• Manage acute dental pain, swelling, and dental emergencies promptly, including prescribing medications and arranging appropriate follow-up.
• Keep accurate clinical records, follow infection prevention and sterilisation protocols, and refer complex cases to specialist services when required.
• Educate patients, families, and caregivers about treatment options, aftercare, and ways to prevent future dental problems.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or an equivalent dental degree.
• Current registration with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board.
• A valid practising licence issued by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board.
• At least two years of post-internship experience in a busy hospital or a comparable high-volume clinical setting.
• Demonstrated ability to diagnose and treat common dental conditions, including routine restorative care and dental emergencies.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and customer-service skills for working with patients, families, and colleagues.
• Well-developed problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to make sound clinical decisions.
• A commitment to ethical, compassionate, and patient-centred dental care.