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FAQ’s Dental Clinic
Technology
What services do you provide?
Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital Dental Clinic is the farthest north dental program in the U.S. Our hub clinic is a hospital-based, modern six-chair dental clinic. Our staff dentists provide comprehensive dental care to residents of Barrow and surrounding villages to deliver dental care to people who would otherwise have no access to a dentist. Outside of dental care, the staff also runs oral health promotion activities throughout the year in the community, such as fluoride programs for the children at Ipalook Elementary School, school oral hygiene and health class lectures, Boys and Girls Club activities, and participation in health fairs and other community events.
What type of equipment do you have?
The dental clinic itself has six chairs, PAN, Hu-Friedy instruments and cassette systems, Rotary Endo, and KaVo surgical hand piece. It is the goal of the Dental Clinic Director to provide the highest quality equipment and instruments so dental staff can provide the highest quality dentistry tin one of the most remote dental clinics in the United States.
Staffing
How is the Dental Clinic staffed?
We have a Dental Clinic Director, three full-time Dentists, full-time, part-time and on-call Dental Assistants, a Dental Program Assistant, and several part-time Dental Specialists staff the dental clinic. The specialists come to Barrow for one to six weeks and provide dental specialty clinics. Part-time dentists are hired only if needed to cover when permanent dentists are out of town.
What is the average daily patient load?
We see between 10-40 patients a day depending on how many providers are working in the main Barrow dental clinic and whether or not we are running a specialty clinic.
Are dentists required to take call?
Dentists are “available” for emergencies after hours and on weekends. We average two to four after hours and weekend dental emergencies a quarter. Though available by cell phone for emergencies, dentists are not “called in” to the hospital frequently.
Do dentists do village travel?
Yes, dentists travel four to eight weeks a year to the outlying villages. Typically, only permanent, full-time dentists do village travel. Occasionally TDY or part-time dentists are scheduled to provide general dental treatment to the villages. We do not run specialty clinics in the villages.
Licensing
What is the licensing requirement for dentists in the State of Alaska?
WREBS and an Alaska application are required for licensure. We also accept dentists with valid out-of-state licenses through a Personal Services Contract with Indean Health Services for one year only. Any provider on a multi-year contract is required to obtain Alaskan licensure within their first year of employment.
Career Paths
Do you offer staff training?
The dental clinic hosts 3rd or 4th year dental students for a two week externship, though the Dental Externship Program run by the HIS. During this time, students are able to experience Barrow and learn about the Inupiat culture. They complete orientation and standardization in Barrow and may go to a remote village to provide dental care with a staff dentist.
We also have our own in-house dental assistant training program. This is a formal class offering beginning and advanced dental assistant training. This program is taught as a 3-6 credit hour college course with Ilisagvik Community College.
We also offer a study club program for professional Dental staff. The Dental Director organizes and hosts 10-15 “Lunch and Learn” programs throughout the year. Continuing education offerings at SSMH Dental have included: oral surgery lectures, case-based “emergencies in the dental office” lectures and hands-on all day programs, hands-on suture technique classes with a Periodontist and an Oral Surgeon, and dental laboratory skills.
Compensation
What is the compensation package for dentists?
In addition to competitive salaries, we offer no-charge housing, two weeks annually for CE’s, six weeks vacation, paid membership in the American Dental Association and Academy of General Dentistry, and $6,000 for moving expenses.
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