Summary

The Dental Assistant facilitates of direct patient care by working together with the dentist in restorative - prosthodontic - maxillofacial prosthodontic - periodontal - endodontic - and oral surgery procedures. They prepare the patient for treatment - schedule appointments - assist with the aspirating of air/water syringes - expose dental radiographs - and take impressions for provision crowns. This position is located at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center.

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: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work - or provides familiarity with the work
• OR - Education
• Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• 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
• Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence-Documentation Submitted : Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board - Inc.
• OR - 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 - Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD)
• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a) (1) (D)
• Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• This [will result in removal from the GS-681 series and] may result in termination of employment
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
• The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants
• DANB certification is not required - but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level and is required for all positions above the full performance level - (Documentation Submitted)
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• 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)
• GS-6 Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met: Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - GS-05 - that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level - which are: 1
• Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality
• 2
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement
• 3
• Basic knowledge of instruments - materials - and standardized dental procedures
• 4
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA
• 5
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Ability to identify normal oral anatomy
• Advanced knowledge of instruments - materials - and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative - surgical - endodontic and periodontal care and procedures
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures
• References: VA Handbook 5005 /15 Part II Appendix G36 - March 17 - 2006 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS- 6
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work include moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.) - heavy carrying (45 lbs
• and over) - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - good distant vision in one eye - ability to hear whisper voice
• There is moderate walking (3-4 hrs.) and some extended periods of standing (3-4 hrs).

Duties

• The dental assistant is an oral healthcare professional trained to provide supportive procedures for the dentist and for the patients
• The incumbent performs a wide range of intra-oral dental procedures and provides chair side assistance in the clinic and operating room setting - as needed
• Assistants should use time out protocols to confirm patients' identity with at least two hospital approved identifiers before seating and preparing patients for treatment
• The dental assistant will: Prepare patient - sterilize and disinfect materials - and assist dentist during dental procedures
• Expose dental diagnostic x-rays
• Take dental histories and vital signs of patients
• Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies
• Provides administrative support to the clinical staff rendering care to those Veterans eligible to receive treatment
• Responsible for the maximum utilization of centralized scheduling to encompass both outpatient and inpatient appointments and coordination of Dental Providers at the WPB VAMC - for the master control of all Dental clinics and appropriate notification to Veterans for future appointments
• Responsible for assuring compensation and pension examinations are scheduled within mandated guidelines
• Continually monitors patient flow - maintains contact with clinical support staff to resolve delays and miscommunication in the clinical aspect of providing dental care
• Ensures patient access to care by having dental appointments properly scheduled
• Accurately inputs data requesting follow-up appointments or treatment and generates letters to patients informing them of clinic appointments
• Provides advisory and technical assistance to both patients and staff with regard to eligibility for dental treatment - as well as other special programs (i.e
• Beneficiary Travel - Fee Basis - Nursing Home and Domiciliary Care
• Work Schedule: Full Time - 4 ten-hour days
• (7:00 a.m
• - 5:30 p.m.) Monday - Tuesday - Thursday - Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 40166F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required