Dental Assistant

The dental assistant facilitate of direct patient care by working together with the dentist in restorative - prosthodontic - maxillofacial prosthodontic - periodontal - endodontic - and oral surgery procedures. They prepare the patients for treatment - schedule appointments - assist with the aspirating of air/water syringes - expose dental radiographs - and take impressions for provisional crowns. Among other ancillary procedures with the objective of helping clinicians achieve optimal oral health.

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

• To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement
• 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 : 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 in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• GS-6 Grade Determination: Experience: At least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs : Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities 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
• 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).

• Major duties but not are limited to: The assistant is responsible to appoint the patient - maintain proper infection control techniques - and follow radiation safety procedures
• Preventative maintenance procedures for digital X-rays equipment and exposing good diagnostic quality images with minimal radiation exposure to patients are fundamental to VA healthcare
• Review that prophylactic antibiotics were taken by patients prior to treatment and verify the time of day it was administered
• Ask patient if there are any changes in medications and or medical conditions since last appointment
• Inform of any changes to the primary dentist to document in electronic medical record
• Take vital signs on patients before procedure starts and document it for provider
• Prepares consent forms for any surgical procedures
• All dental assistants should be familiar with expanded dental assisting functions
• Some examples include
• Open computerized medical record & X-rays on screen in operatory prior to dentist entering operatory
• Maintain clean field of operation
• During post operative care - remove sutures - dispense gauze and mouth rinses as prescribed by dentist
• in computer
• Give pre and post op instruction to patients after treatment is completed
• Breakdown operatory after procedure completed
• Follow proper reusable medical equipment protocols for cleaning and disinfecting dental equipment
• Dispense any educational materials and/or supplies patient may need
• Inventory supply levels
• Maintain required 40 hours of continuing education
• Perform assigned detailed duties
• Some examples are as follows#: Code cart pre-maintenance Glucose pre-maintenance Awards committee Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 41717F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized