Northeast Missouri Health Council is proud to offer comprehensive Family Dental Care services to the local community. With a focus on oral health and well-being, their skilled team of dental professionals is committed to providing exceptional care to patients of all ages. From routine check-ups and cleanings to advanced procedures such as fillings, root canals, and extractions, Northeast Missouri Health Council's Family Dental Care department delivers personalized and compassionate treatment in a comfortable environment. The dental team utilizes state-of-the-art technology and follows the latest advancements in dental care to ensure optimal outcomes. Whether it's promoting preventive care or addressing specific dental concerns, Northeast Missouri Health Council's Family Dental Care is dedicated to enhancing the smiles and overall oral health of every patient they serve.
Dentists at Northeast Missouri Health Council (NMHC) have the flexibility to choose between two options for their practice. They can either work full time exclusively at the Kirksville location or have a shared opportunity, splitting their time between the Kirksville location and the Mobile unit. The latter arrangement is currently managed by Dr. Nolan Frisch, DDS.
For candidates interested in joining NMHC as dentists, completion or expected completion of dental school training and the ability to obtain a Missouri dental license are the necessary qualifications. The opportunity is open to both recent graduates, including those from the classes of 2023 and 2024, as well as experienced candidates.
In terms of the typical schedule, full-time dentists work Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. They are allocated half a day per week for administrative tasks, which can be combined to form one full day every other week. While dentists have the flexibility to work from home during this time, they should be prepared for potential meetings and ensure that patient charts are complete and up to date.
Regarding call coverage, there is no official on-call schedule for dentists at NMHC. In the rare event of an after-hours emergency, the dentists will contact each other to determine who can come in and address the situation.
The scope of practice for dentists at NMHC encompasses bread and butter dentistry, including preventive care, extractions, endodontics (root canals), oral surgery, dentures, flippers, and partials. If a dentist is not comfortable with a particular procedure, the other dentists are willing to serve as a referral source. Third molar extractions and pediatric oral surgery can be referred out to Hannibal, MO, located about 1.5 hours east of Kirksville. Orthodontist referrals are sent to Columbia, MO, a 1.5-hour drive south, although there is also a provider who visits Kirksville every other week on Wednesdays and accepts referrals, albeit with a significant waitlist.
NMHC has a large Medicaid practice, serving as the primary option for these patients within a 90-mile radius. Additionally, there is a substantial pediatrics practice, with approximately 70% of patients falling within the age range of 3 to 18 years old. The daily patient volume for dentists ranges from 15 to 20 patients, excluding visits with registered dental hygienists (RDH). Dentists also perform hygiene visits when necessary. To account for last-minute cancellations, patients are double-booked.
The Mobile unit is available for dentists who are interested and have coverage on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The Mobile unit covers a 90-minute radius from the clinic and is typically stationed at a secondary school, where it primarily serves pediatric patients during school hours. Due to the structured schedules at schools, no-shows are rare, resulting in a high volume of patient contact ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 throughout the year.
Northeast Dental, located at 402 W Jefferson St., Kirksville, MO 63501, is the clinic where dental services are provided. The clinic operates from Monday to Friday, with working hours from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The clinic has a dedicated and efficient staff to support the dental providers. For each dentist, there are two dental assistants who are equipped with laptops and handle the charting and notes for the dentist during patient visits. The dentist then reviews and signs off on the documentation. Additionally, there is an office manager who specializes in handling human resources and general office needs. Managing the dental-specific requirements of the practice, such as equipment, electronic dental records (EDR), procedural issues, and billing, is the responsibility of the dental manager, Kristy Treasure. With 11 years of experience, Kristy Treasure covers both the Kirksville and Macon locations.
In terms of equipment, the clinic is equipped with digital censors, specifically Jazz Censors, for radiography purposes. Additionally, there is a panoramic X-ray machine from Planmeca, facilitating comprehensive dental imaging.
The incoming provider will join a team of five experienced dentists and a full complement of advanced practice providers (APPs) and office personnel. The staffing includes two dental assistants for each dentist, with their laptops aiding in efficient charting and note-taking during patient interactions. An office manager focuses on HR and general office needs, while the dental manager, Kristy Treasure, with her extensive experience, handles the dental-specific requirements across both the Kirksville and Macon locations.