As a dental professional, you can find a career where your focus remains on providing the highest-quality health care. Meet Dr. Richard Romney, Clinical Director for Dentistry at TrueCare. Dr. Romney is the supervisor for the entire dental service line, overseeing roughly 20 dentists. His journey, defined by mission-driven service, spanning two decades as a Navy dentist and 18 years at TrueCare, is a true testament to what it means to find a truly mission-driven home in health care.

For Dr. Romney, the appeal of TrueCare is simple: the ability to provide full-service, top-notch dentistry where clinical decisions are based solely on patient benefit, not insurance coverage or cost. Learn more about what makes TrueCare a unique and fulfilling place to work, directly through Dr. Romney’s experience.

Dr. Richard Romney on Serving with Purpose: Dental Assistant & Hygienist Jobs in San Diego

Dr. Richard Romney’s career path is deeply rooted in service, moving from the military to a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). He notes that both settings share a critical feature that drew him in: a salary-based position where he is not pressured to sell dentistry. 

For dental professionals like you, the pressure to sell and base care on coverage and cost can be like a professional toothache, a lingering pang of discomfort that refuses to subside. This is a defining factor in choosing a community health center over a private practice.

“I love being a dentist and being in a salaried position that’s not linked to productivity, how many procedures I do, or selling dentistry. It’s like when I was serving in the military. The government’s paying them, and the government’s paying me, so there was no need to talk about the bill or the price of things. We just did our best with what we had and took care of our community. That’s what makes working at TrueCare special, I think,” said Dr. Romney. 

For Dr. Romney, the desire to remove money from the clinical equation allows him to focus entirely on his patients. His main drivers are being mission-driven and doing the most good for the most people.

Related Article: TrueCare FAQs: Is There Professional Growth and Innovation at TrueCare?

What is the Most Rewarding Aspect of TrueCare Dentist & Dental Assistant Jobs in San Diego?

Dr. Richard Romney and his team are focused on preventative care, disease control, and maintenance. He said TrueCare has good compensation and employee retention, which he attributes to how fulfilling the work is when you remove financial barriers.  

“The financial barrier plays such a huge role in everything. A lot of people will elect to avoid getting the care they need because they don’t think they can afford it or they don’t have the information to understand how important it is. This results in a larger bill down the line. So, being able to remove that barrier is incredibly meaningful work – you’re making essential health care affordable and eliminating the cost of future, intensive dental work. I worked in the private sector for about a year and a half, and I really disliked the aspect of selling dentistry or convincing people to upgrade or choose more expensive options. It’s really rewarding to take money out of the equation and have the patient involved in that decision-making so that we can do the best we can for them,” said Dr. Romney. 

TrueCare maintains high standards, offering top-notch facilities, equipment, and people, ensuring a “real office” experience that is comparable to any private setting. The reward comes from the ability to provide care where it’s needed most. 

Dr. Romney shared that some patients are surprised by the high quality of care they receive, expecting less from a community clinic.

“They’re treated just as well as if it were a private office. It’s not like it’s a step down to come to the community clinic at TrueCare. We have the facilities, equipment, and people to provide top-notch service, and we don’t base what we do on insurance. I don’t have to drive my clinical decision-making based on ‘this is covered, that’s not covered,’ but more ‘this is what could benefit you as a patient,'” said Dr. Romney. 

This dedication to quality extends to patient education, helping people understand their options and the importance of preventive care, which can save them thousands of dollars in the long run. He also likes the mission-driven approach because of his military background.

“I just love working here because I get to be a part of a bigger mission, like when I was in the military. It really gives what you do more meaning,” said Dr. Romney.

Related Article: TrueCare FAQs: What’s it Like to Be a Provider at TrueCare?

How Does TrueCare Support Teamwork in Dental Careers?

TrueCare’s dental service line is designed to foster a culture of teamwork and collaboration. Unlike solo private practice, Dr. Richard Romney said he appreciates having colleagues to collaborate with and reach out to immensely.

“The great thing about TrueCare is you’ll always have a colleague who is more than happy to help you out, so you’re never alone, like you often are in a private practice. It’s a really nice and supportive environment for collaboration,” said Dr. Romney.

The dental team works together to ensure patients receive seamless care:

• Collaboration: Dentists meet four times monthly for updates, continuing education, and case discussions.
• Quality over Speed: The organization values quality over speed and avoids “bean counts,” utilizing a peer review system where dentists review each other’s work.
• Patient-First Mindset: The emphasis is that patients belong to TrueCare, not just one provider. This peer accountability ensures that if a provider is away, a colleague can easily step in, understanding the patient’s planned care.

“The teamwork and collaboration are things that to me are appealing. You won’t be on your own, so it’s not a situation where the buck stops with you and you have no one else to ask. You’ll always have colleagues you can reach out to. Even if they don’t work in the dental department, they’ll be more than willing to help,” said Dr. Romney. 

Related Article: What is the Importance of Compassionate Care in the TrueCare Mission?

What Makes You A Good Fit for Dental Assistant and Dental Hygienist Jobs at TrueCare?

Dr. Richard Romney is actively looking for committed team members, specifically for dental assistant and dental hygienist jobs. The qualities he seeks are rooted in the overall TrueCare philosophy of whole-person care.

“You really have to understand how everything’s interconnected and the role your care is playing in the bigger picture. For example, there are links between gum disease and heart problems. Having a commitment to overall patient well-being is really important to succeed here, not just focused on the teeth or gums, but the whole person. TrueCare is whole person care, and that’s why we are so focused on collaborating with one another,” explained Dr. Romney. 

Dr. Romney emphasized the importance of teamwork and efficiency, ensuring all team members are working at the top of their license or skill. 

For dental assistants, this includes the possibility of moving up to a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) designation, a path TrueCare supports for new hires.

“We’ve hired RDAs who have graduated from their program or school but haven’t gotten their license yet, and in those cases, we’ll assist them in getting their experience going so that they can prepare to finish,” explained Dr. Romney. 

Related Article: What Health Care & Medical Career Paths Lead to TrueCare?

What is the Culture of Support Like at TrueCare?

For Dr. Romney, the ultimate reward transcends money; it’s the human connection and the generational continuity of care he witnesses.

“People come to us anxious. Maybe they’re in pain, or maybe they’re just uncertain about what’s going to happen. Being able to approach them in a patient-centered way, meet them where they’re at, explain things in a way they can understand and in their language of choice, with interpretation or a fluent provider, is life-changing. It makes them feel appreciated and relieved, and they leave with a smile – they treat you like you’re their new best friend. It’s an incredible feeling. That human connection is really the reward for me,” said Dr. Romney.

Like many of our providers, Dr. Romney loves that he has been with TrueCare long enough to see siblings and children of former patients coming in, creating a special bond with families as a multi-generational steward of health that is deeply gratifying. 

This environment of service and support is particularly appealing to those transitioning from military service, where a similar sense of collective mission is prioritized over individual profit.

“I just like that we can be honest, straightforward, and explain the options. I just want to be a dentist who works in a system that is set up in a way that supports me doing good dentistry without having to talk patients into things they can’t afford or don’t understand, and that’s the beauty of working at TrueCare – that’s what we do,” said Dr. Romney. 

Related Article: What is the Interview Process at TrueCare?

What Advice Do You Have for Recent Graduates?

For dental professionals fresh out of school, Dr. Romney offers thoughtful advice aimed at accelerating clinical preparedness and building confidence. Unlike medical doctors, dentists are not required to complete a residency. 

However, Dr. Romney strongly recommends voluntarily seeking post-graduate year one programs, specifically a General Practice Residency (GPR) or an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program.

These one-year programs allow you to rotate through dental specialties and operate primarily in a clinical setting (about 80% of the time) under supervision.

“As soon as you graduate, technically you can start working wherever you find a job, but that doesn’t mean you have the skill set or the speed or the efficiency to hit the ground running. [AEGD] can be a nice way to start your career, to get you started out on a good footing. For anyone who’s in dental school, I would definitely recommend looking up opportunities for AEGD,” said Dr. Romney.

Ultimately, taking this extra year allows you to increase your skill, speed, and efficiency. 

Related Article: Dental Jobs in San Diego: Dr. David Vasquez’s Journey to TrueCare

Are You Inspired by Dr. Richard Romney’s Words and Journey? Explore Dental Assistant & Hygienist Jobs, as well as Other Community Health Care Jobs, at TrueCare Today!

Dr. Richard Romney’s experience showcases a career where dentists and their teams can be honest, straightforward providers, focusing entirely on patient needs and delivering good dentistry. Maybe you’re transitioning out of the military into civilian life and are looking to continue living out a noble life of service, or maybe you’re just looking for a new job that enables you to do the kind of meaningful work that you always dreamed of. Rest assured, TrueCare champions teamwork, quality, and a profound mission of service. 

“Let me be clear – I’m not saying that all dentists in the private space are crooks, because there are countless great dentists who do amazing work for their patients. But it’s just a different mindset. If you have a patient-first, mission-driven mindset, working at a community health center like TrueCare will make work fulfilling in ways you never thought possible,” said Dr. Romney.

If you are a compassionate professional seeking a stable, rewarding dental career where you can focus on making a difference in the community, we invite you to explore career opportunities at TrueCare today!