Summary

This position is located in the Dental Service at the Salem VA Medical Center (VAMC). Performs the duties of a dental assistant in a hospital based dental clinic. At this level serves as a staff assistant - assisting the provider and utilizing techniques of four-handed dentistry. A $5 -000 recruitment incentive may be authorized. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 04/28/2022.

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: 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- 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)
• 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
• Grade Determination: GS-03: Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment: Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions
• It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily close supervision
• GS-04: Experience: In addition to the basic requirements - 1 year of experience at the next lower level - 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)]
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval Basic knowledge of maintenance - care -and storage of dental equipment
• Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements
• Assignment: Employees at this level serve as developmental staff dental assistants
• It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily and direct contact at the site of work from the assigned supervisor
• Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: receiving and preparing patient for treatment including seating - positioning chair - placing napkin - performing disinfection and sterilization procedures
• performing basic chair side assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist
• reporting medical emergencies to dentist
• preparing procedural trays/armamentaria set-ups
• exposing and processing basic dental radiographs with direct supervision
• mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or saving digital images to the electronic medical record with direct supervision
• complying with standard recommendation for equipment maintenance
• GS-05: Experience or Education:(1) In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above - applicants must demonstrate] at least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• OR - (2) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.(3) In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) above - the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's: Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement
• Basic] knowledge of instruments - materials - and standardized dental procedures
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol
• Assignment: Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants [for routine dental procedures
• Direct supervision is given for any complex patient procedures from more experienced dental assistants or the treating dentist]
• [Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: 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 fourhanded 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
• GS-06: Experience
• At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) demonstrating the core competencies described at that level
• 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
• Assignment
• Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties - with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant - dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist
• Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/46 - Part II - Appendix G36.

Duties

• The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions under direct supervision
• Duties include but are not limited to: Customer Service: Shows courtesy - respect and a positive attitude for patients - co-workers - and the public
• Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns - provide service recovery
• Chairside Assisting: Set up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Pass instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently
• Keep operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Dental Imaging: Images are characterized by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized - and retakes are minimized
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization: Demonstrate proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
• Clerical Functions: Assist patients in scheduling appointments
• Assist in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• Information Management: Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
• Follow computer security regulations
• Patient Safety: Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
• Provide accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• Employee Education: Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions
• Dental Laboratory Functions: Coordination of Dental Laboratory cases with the doctor and the laboratory
• Direct Patient Care: Provide post-operative and another appropriate patient education
• Four-Handed dental procedures - assisting the dentist
• Work directly supporting the GS-8 supervisory dental assistant and Hygienist during patient care
• Chairside assistant to all specialty providers
• Clean & Polish or dental appliances/prosthetics
• Work Schedule: 7:30am - 5:00pm Monday - Thursday - 7:30am - 4:00pm Friday - every other Friday off Compressed/Flexible: Available - every other Friday off Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Recruitment Incentive: A $5 -000 recruitment incentive may authorized for highly qualified applicants.