Dental Assistant

Summary

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until June 19, 2024.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Experience and Education(1) Experience
• Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.OR,(2) Education
• Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).(3) Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• Certification
• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75
• Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.(1) Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence(a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR,(b) Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry
• OR,(c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).(2) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• Physical Requirements
• See above
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: n addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates, .GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• (b) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 1
• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy
• 2
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures
• 3
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs
• 4
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist
• 5
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats
• 6
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry
• 7
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records
• 8
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures
• (c) Assignment
• Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties
• Assignments at this level include: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays
• Preferred Experience: Proficient in impression making Experience in oral surgical procedures Excellent operative and prosthodontic assisting skills Enjoys working with adults and elderly population References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G36 Dental Assistant Qualification Standard dated April 19, 2011
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Standing (up to 4 hours); Repeated bending (up to 8 hours); Working closely with others.

Duties

"*** Bargaining Position ***Chairside Assisting: Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols Assists in routine general dental procedures Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, and periodontics Dental Imaging: Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization: Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS standards Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Dental Laboratory Functions: Pours impressions and prepares study models Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rim Prepares cases for the dental laboratory and ensures timely retrieval of completed cases from the laboratory Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow Direct Patient Care: Suture Removal Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication Recement and fabricate temporary crowns.
Cleaning of prostheses Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris Vitals signs monitoring Administers oxygen (in emergencies and routinely via transfer from patient's oxygen tank to the same liter flow on operatory oxygen and returns to patient's oxygen after treatment).
Applies fluoride products, as ordered by dentist Applies topical anesthetics, as ordered by dentist Applies other topical medications and medicaments, as ordered by dentist Administers pre-procedural mouth rinses, as ordered by dentist Place rubber dams and matrix bands Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Telephonically addresses patient care issues and documents for review by the dentist Performs other permissible direct patient care issues as time and skill levels Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m.
- 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"