Summary

This position is assigned to the Dental Service located at the Martinsburg Veterans Administration Medical Center. Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants with the ability to perform a full range of duties.

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) 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
• (3) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• (4) 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• 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: GS-6 Experience
• At least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• Examples of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level include: Responds to basic medical emergencies
• measures and records vital signs
• provides pre- and post- operative instructions
• Maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction - suction - irrigation - drying - placing and removing cotton rolls
• using the concepts of four- handed dentistry
• Assists with basic restorative procedures
• mixes basic dental materials
• Assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms
• Applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses
• exposes and processes basic dental radiographs
• mounts and labels dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records
• Evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality
• maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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
• 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 GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit - dental equipment and countertops 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
• Assist in routine general procedures using concepts of four handed dentistry
• Assists in specialized dental procedures such as - but not limited to - oral surgery - prosthodontics - endodontics - periodontics - and implant surgery and restoration
• Proficiently exposes standard and specialty intraoral and extraoral images [ periapical - bitewing - occlusal - panoramic - TMJ - sinus - cephalometric - 3D cone beam - etc
• ] in traditional and/or digital formats as requested by the doctor
• Modifies settings to achieve images as requested by the provider
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized - and retakes are minimized
• Ensures all dental assistants are trained and monitored in proper intra and extraoral radiographic techniques
• Responsible for teaching and monitoring all dental assistants in proper radiographic exposure to generate clinically acceptable images with minimal retakes
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning treatment rooms as well as during direct patient clinical care and all interactions in the clinical and laboratory
• settings
• Assists in charting findings in the electronic health record
• Initiates computerized progress notes Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPPA with written and verbal information
• Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities
• Records and monitors patent vitals (BP - pulse - pulse oximeter) and conditions before - during and after procedures
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 613-24116-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized