VA Black Hills Health Care System (DOVA) is hiring: Dental Assistant in Hot Spri

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

Overview

Duties include, but are not limited to: customer service, chairside assisting, dental imaging, infection control and equipment sterilization, clerical functions, information management, patient safety, employee education, and dental laboratory functions.

Responsibilities

• 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
• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit 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
• 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

Requirements

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, Experience and Education, and Certification.

• 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: Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), or six months experience that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work, or equivalent combinations of experience and education.
• Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75.

Grade Determinations

GS-3 Dental Assistant: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 Dental Assistant: 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.

GS-5 Dental Assistant: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-4, and demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities.

GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level): At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-5, and demonstrated technical knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, parental leave, childcare subsidy, retirement, insurance, and more.