Summary

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently with direct supervision.

Qualifications

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: Experience
• 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)
• OR - 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: (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)
• 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
• English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 Dental Assistant Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Dental Assistant Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements - 1 year of experience at the next lower level - GS-3 - OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling
• 2
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and [medical emergencies
• 3
• Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval
• 4
• Basic knowledge of maintenance - care and storage of dental equipment
• 5
• Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements
• GS-5 Dental Assistant Experience or Education: In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above - applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - GS-4 - that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level - OR successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: The applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's: 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
• GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - GS-5 - that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Customer Service Shows courtesy - respect - and a positive attitude for patients - co-workers and the public
• Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns - provides service recovery
• Chairside Assisting Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely
• 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 manufacturers 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 maxillofacial surgery - endodontics - and surgical 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 SPD standards
• Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images
• Clerical Functions Assists patients in scheduling appointments
• Assists in filling gaps in the doctors schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointment
• Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• Information Management Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
• Follows computer security regulations Patient Safety Modifies care as necessitated by patients age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements
• Monitors patient condition during treatment being alert for signs of physical distress
• Monitors patient (BP - pulse EKG - pulse oximeter) - and condition during moderate sedation and during recovery period following procedure Employee Education Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions
• Dental Laboratory Functions Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Employee Education Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions
• Dental Laboratory Functions Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Direct Patient Care Remove sutures and removal of periodontal surgical dressing
• Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris
• Recement and fabricate temporary crowns
• Coronal polishing of teeth
• Place rubber dams and matrix bands
• Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required