Dental Assistant - OCA Job at The American Dental Hygienists' Association in Cit

Overview

This position is within the Dental Program located at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The position entails a wide range of intra-oral dental procedures and provides chair-side assistance in the clinic and operating room setting. The incumbent assists with and educates patients regarding intra-oral procedures associated with various phases of restorative (prosthodontic and maxillofacial prosthetic), periodontal, endodontic, and oral surgery procedures.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Applicants must meet the requirements of the position by the time the position closes

• 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 - (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
• They must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation - 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
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is highly desirable and DANB certification is not required for appointment up to the full performance level, but is required for positions above the full performance level
• Loss of Credential: An employee who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame must be removed from the occupation
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held
• Further provisions apply for employees who do not meet all the basic requirements but met the qualifications applicable at the time of appointment
• Grade Determinations: GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)
• Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level demonstrating core competencies
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) include identification of normal oral anatomy; advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and procedures; ability to monitor vital signs; patient education; radiography; data entry in electronic dental records; and maintenance of dental equipment

English Language Proficiency: VA Handbook 5005/46 requires proficiency in spoken and written English.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Work is sedentary but also requires standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Work environment is an office/clinic setting with normal safety precautions.

Duties

• Major Duties: GENERAL Maintain dental equipment in a clean and operative condition
• Provide 4-handed dentistry including patient seating, draping, retraction, suction, and instrument passing
• Support and follow all infectious disease policies including proper management of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME)
• Independently provide procedure-specific patient education, including preventive dental care and pre- and post-operative instruction
• Refer patient concerns to a treating dentist
• Explain elementary rationale for prescribed dental treatments
• Take preliminary medical histories and interpret vital signs to be reviewed by the dentist
• Enter, record, and retrieve information related to medical and dental histories as relayed to the dentist or patient
• Phone triage of patients to determine whether licensed provider attention is required
• Take impressions for study casts, diagnostic casts, or occlusal guards
• Responsible for more than one dentist when required by the clinic
• Maintain current required training
• Other dental supportive services authorized by the licensed dentist while the Registered Dental Assistant is responsible for dental unit waterline disinfection
• Restorative dentistry and prosthodontics: aid in shade selection, fabricate provisional crowns, place and remove matrix bands, select and pre-fit provisional crowns, remove temporary cement, apply desensitizing agents
• Periodontics: remove sutures placed by a licensed dentist, remove protective surgical dressings
• Endodontics: place and remove rubber dam, maintain endodontic inventory
• Radiography: capability to capture standard and special dental images, perform full range of radiography including cone beam CT, take radiographs according to prescription, electronically request/record digital images, position patients and films for proper angles, ensure diagnostic image quality
• Oral Surgery: assist dentist in procedures (e.g., implants), maintain sterility, manage inventory, prepare instruments and trays, handle anesthesia equipment and crash cart; other duties as required
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized; PCS: Not Authorized