OPT Pediatric Dentist Jobs
Pediatric dentist roles on OPT require an active dental license in your state, which means coordinating your NCLEX-equivalent dental boards with your OPT authorization timeline. Most positions are full-time clinical roles at private practices, DSO groups, or community health centers, all of which can serve as valid OPT employers.
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Get Access To All JobsEssential Duties and Major responsibilities:
- Provide direct service to patients
- Insure that DPH, OSHA and Dental Association regulations are strictly followed
- Comply with departmental protocols
- Meet productivity standards (if applicable)
- Provide general dentistry and general supervision of dental assistants and hygienists
- Attend required meetings
- Commitment to providing dental care to families in a medically under-served community
- Willingness to be flexible in the development of new methods of dental services delivery
- Ability to deal with sensitive information in a highly confidential manner
- Effective communication skills, both oral and written, with patients, families, visitors, co-workers, health care professionals, funders, and other regulatory agencies
- Works as part of team
- Awareness of resources available within the health center to accommodate the needs of patients
- Demonstrate understanding and commitment of the health center mission
- Demonstrate understanding and commitment to the established CHC Values and Standards
- Performs other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
- Post-Graduate training in Pedo
- DDS or DMD from an accredited Dental School or minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Surgery
- Massachusetts Controlled Substance certificate and DEA required
- Certified in CPR
- Licensed in Massachusetts to practice Dentistry/Valid Massachusetts Limited License in Dentistry
- Minimum of three years’ professional experience preferred
- Public Health experience preferred
- Proficient reading, writing, and speaking in English required
Competencies: Individual departments will develop competencies which will be communicated and maintained through CHC’s performance evaluation system.
Supervision Exercised: Functional responsibly of chair-side Dental Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant.
Environmental Working Conditions: The environment is a normal office environment of a busy Community Health Center. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to saliva and blood-borne pathogens. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and risk of radiation.
Physical and Mental Requirements: The physical and mental demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation. The individual must be in good health of mind and body with the physical dexterity and vision suitable to accomplish the job duties outlined above. Knowledge of proper patient transfer assistance is also required and the ability to lift as much as 50 pounds may be necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk.
Essential Duties and Major responsibilities:
- Provide direct service to patients
- Insure that DPH, OSHA and Dental Association regulations are strictly followed
- Comply with departmental protocols
- Meet productivity standards (if applicable)
- Provide general dentistry and general supervision of dental assistants and hygienists
- Attend required meetings
- Commitment to providing dental care to families in a medically under-served community
- Willingness to be flexible in the development of new methods of dental services delivery
- Ability to deal with sensitive information in a highly confidential manner
- Effective communication skills, both oral and written, with patients, families, visitors, co-workers, health care professionals, funders, and other regulatory agencies
- Works as part of team
- Awareness of resources available within the health center to accommodate the needs of patients
- Demonstrate understanding and commitment of the health center mission
- Demonstrate understanding and commitment to the established CHC Values and Standards
- Performs other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
- Post-Graduate training in Pedo
- DDS or DMD from an accredited Dental School or minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Surgery
- Massachusetts Controlled Substance certificate and DEA required
- Certified in CPR
- Licensed in Massachusetts to practice Dentistry/Valid Massachusetts Limited License in Dentistry
- Minimum of three years’ professional experience preferred
- Public Health experience preferred
- Proficient reading, writing, and speaking in English required
Competencies: Individual departments will develop competencies which will be communicated and maintained through CHC’s performance evaluation system.
Supervision Exercised: Functional responsibly of chair-side Dental Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant.
Environmental Working Conditions: The environment is a normal office environment of a busy Community Health Center. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to saliva and blood-borne pathogens. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and risk of radiation.
Physical and Mental Requirements: The physical and mental demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation. The individual must be in good health of mind and body with the physical dexterity and vision suitable to accomplish the job duties outlined above. Knowledge of proper patient transfer assistance is also required and the ability to lift as much as 50 pounds may be necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk.
See all OPT Pediatric Dentist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Pediatric Dentist
Start your state dental license application before OPT begins
Most states take 8 to 16 weeks to process dental licensure applications. Submit yours as soon as your program director signs off, so your license is active when your OPT start date arrives and you can begin working immediately.
Target DSO groups for stronger sponsorship pipelines
Dental service organizations like Aspen Dental and Pacific Dental Services have dedicated HR and immigration teams. They hire at volume and are more experienced with H-1B visa sponsorship than independent private practices with one or two dentists.
Confirm the employer's NCLEX status before accepting an offer
Some pediatric dental practices work exclusively with state Medicaid, which adds credentialing requirements on top of licensure. Verify those timelines before signing, since credentialing delays can push back your actual start date by weeks.
Frame your pediatric specialty as a genuine clinical differentiator
Pediatric dentistry is a recognized specialty requiring additional residency training. When communicating with employers, lead with your specialty credential, not just your dental degree. It directly addresses their hardest staffing gap and strengthens your sponsorship case.
Get clarity on H-1B sponsorship intent before your OPT ends
Ask hiring managers directly whether the practice has sponsored H-1B visas before and whether they plan to do so for this role. Practices that have done it previously are far more likely to do it again without requiring attorney education.
Apply to community health centers and federally qualified health centers
FQHCs and CHCs often qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they can file outside the annual lottery. For OPT students in pediatric dentistry, these settings offer a meaningful path to long-term work authorization beyond the standard cap.
Pediatric Dentist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a pediatric dentist on OPT without a state dental license?
No. Practicing dentistry in the United States requires an active state dental license, and OPT work authorization does not waive that requirement. You must hold a valid license in the state where you practice before you can legally begin clinical work. Check your target state's dental board for specific examination and application requirements.
Does pediatric dentistry qualify as a STEM OPT field eligible for the 24-month extension?
It depends on your degree program's CIP code. Some dental degree programs are classified under STEM-eligible codes, but many are not. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO before assuming you qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. If your program is not STEM-designated, you are limited to the standard 12 months of post-completion OPT.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor pediatric dentists for H-1B status after OPT?
Dental service organizations, federally qualified health centers, and large hospital-affiliated pediatric dental programs are the most consistent H-1B sponsors in this field. FQHCs are particularly valuable because many qualify as cap-exempt employers, meaning they can file H-1B petitions outside the annual lottery. Browse Migrate Mate to find pediatric dentist roles at employers with sponsorship history.
Can I work at multiple dental practices on OPT, or am I limited to one employer?
OPT does not restrict you to a single employer, but each position must be directly related to your dental degree and involve at least 20 hours of work per week to count as valid OPT employment. If you work at multiple practices, each must be tracked carefully since unauthorized or unrelated work can jeopardize your status. Consult your DSO before taking on concurrent positions.
How far in advance should I start applying for pediatric dentist jobs on OPT?
Start at least four to six months before your intended OPT start date. State dental licensure alone can take three to four months, and many employers will not finalize an offer until they see an active license. Earlier applications give you time to complete both licensing and the OPT application process before your target start date without a gap in employment.