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Akicita Federal
Gallup, New Mexico

Dentist

DentistNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$395,200 a year

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Akicita Federal is hiring a Dentist to deliver comprehensive outpatient dental care to American Indian and Alaska Native patients served by the Indian Health Service (IHS) Navajo Area at the Tohatchi Health Center in Tohatchi, NM.

This is a meaningful opportunity to address a critical shortage of dental providers in a rural, underserved community located approximately 25 miles north of Gallup, serving roughly 8,000 nearby residents.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary care team at one of the newest outpatient facilities operated by the Navajo Area Indian Health Service.

  • Provide direct outpatient dental services to IHS patients presenting for treatment at Tohatchi Health Center across an 8-hour workday (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday)
  • Diagnose and treat a broad range of dental conditions for a diverse patient population that includes pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients
  • Document patient encounters, treatment plans, and outcomes accurately within IHS information systems in compliance with HIPAA standards
  • Coordinate referrals and collaborate with consultant staff from Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC) for cases requiring specialty or inpatient services
  • Maintain clinical privileges and adhere to credentialing requirements established by the Gallup Service Unit Credentialing Committee
  • Follow IHS Service Unit policies, Joint Commission standards, and CMS guidelines to ensure high-quality, safe patient care
  • Engage with patients and staff in a culturally respectful manner consistent with the values and practices of the Navajo Nation community

$395,200 - $395,200 a year

  • Doctoral degree from an accredited dental school (DDS or DMD)
  • Active, valid state dental license with a clearly indicated expiration date
  • Active DEA Registration and Controlled Substance license
  • Valid National Provider Identifier (NPI)
  • Ability to obtain and maintain clinical privileges through the Gallup Service Unit Credentialing Committee prior to beginning work
  • Completion of required IHS credentialing documentation, including application for medical staff appointment, privileges request, NPDB query, and Medicare/Medicaid acknowledgement
  • Proficiency with electronic health record and IHS information technology systems
  • Ability to pass a federal background check in accordance with the Crime Control Act and Indian Child and Family Violence Act requirements

What Sets Candidates Apart

  • Board certification in a dental specialty relevant to outpatient primary dental care
  • Prior experience providing dental services in a federal, tribal, or IHS-operated health facility
  • Familiarity with the Navajo Nation, its culture, and the unique health needs of its community members
  • Experience working in rural or frontier healthcare settings with limited specialist backup
  • Completion of a dental residency program, particularly in general dentistry or a related discipline

About Akicita FederalAkicita Federal is a Native American-owned federal contractor delivering healthcare, clinical, IT, and program-support services across the Indian Health Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies. We hire the people who do the work — clinicians, analysts, engineers, support staff — and we treat them like the professionals they are.

Equal Opportunity EmployerAkicita Federal is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Akicita Federal complies with the Indian Preference provisions of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638) where applicable.

Key Responsibilities

The dentist will provide direct outpatient dental services to a diverse patient population at the Tohatchi Health Center. Responsibilities include diagnosing conditions, developing treatment plans, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality care.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in dentistry (DDS or DMD) and possess an active, valid state dental license. Additionally, applicants must have a DEA registration, NPI, and the ability to pass a federal background check.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

DiagnosisTreatment planningPatient documentationHIPAA complianceElectronic health recordsPediatric dentistryGeriatric dentistryConsultationCultural competency

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Dentist at Akicita Federal a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Dentist — ranked against 3,154 active Dentist listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

General Dentistry Career Context

Akicita Federal holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 74/100, 9 active listings.

Of the 40 active Dentist listings this role was benchmarked against, 38% have no call, 83% require no weekends.

Dentist by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · above average in dentistranked against 3,154 Dentist listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$395kDentist median $250k (middle half $200k–$300k)412 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$429k in purchasing powerNew Mexico index 92.2 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Dentist listings in New Mexico50 active5,725 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 38% no call · 83% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings: 23% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 7% offer loan repayment5,725 active listings, Oct 2026
Akicita Federalsilver tier, 74/100Top Employers work-life index9 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (3,154 Dentist listings), Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Dentist Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

21 jobs · 18 employers
6
<$295k
12
$295k-355k
0
$355k-415k
1
$461k
2
$500k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

17 jobs
401k / retirement match
71%
CME allowance
65%
Sign-on bonus
35%
Visa sponsorship
18%
Loan repayment
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

General Dentist

Dental365 · Lynbrook, New York

$150k-$500k
#2

General Dentist

Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics · Waco, Texas

$300k-$500k
#3

Dentist

$230k-$461k
#4

General Dentist

$290k-$350k
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 6.4
Better work-life than 70% of Dentist listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,154 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends

Living in Gallup

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$237k≈ 0.6× annual pay
Median resident rent
$927/mo≈ 3% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
21 min
State income tax
Up to 5.9%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use the advertised annual pay range’s lower bound, before taxes. Regional prices are not a personal budget.