Dental Assistant Job at The American Dental Hygienists' Association in Jacksonvi

Summary

The North Florida/South Georgia VA Healthcare System is currently recruiting for a Dental Assistant. The Dental Assistant serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform a full range of duties with some independence, under indirect supervision from the Lead Dental Assistant or treating Dentist. Examples of procedures may be diagnostic, restorative, and/or surgical in nature.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency.
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 – section D – paragraph 5a.
• Six months of 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. Must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds those standards and be certified as radiographers in their field.
• Certification of Radiologic Competence – Documentation submitted: Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board – Inc., OR the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry, OR 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 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) – Documentation submitted. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is not required but highly desirable for appointment up to and including the full performance level, and required for all positions above that level.
• Qualification under the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (applicable only to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria).
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates GS‑6: at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
• 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; 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 diagnostic quality; ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment; ability to enter and retrieve data using electronic dental records; ability to perform dental assistant‑appropriate laboratory procedures.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Set up operatory suite for planned dental procedure and clean dental unit for timely turnover.
• Pass instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Keep operative field clear of debris and retract oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer’s instructions.
• Accomplish all intra‑operative procedures within standard infection control protocols.
• Assist in routine general dental procedures using the concept of four‑handed dentistry.
• Assist in specialized dental procedures, including oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement, and restoration.
• Maintain both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental standards.
• Restore teeth prepared by dentist with permanent and temporary fillings: place bases and liners; select, adapt, and place matrices; place, condense, carve, finish, and polish amalgam restorations; place, compress, and finish synthetic restorations; place and contour temporary restorations.
• Support dentist in endodontic treatments by applying rubber dam, removing temporary filling using low‑speed handpiece, and cleansing and drying operative field.
• After dentist treats patient, irrigate tooth, apply prescribed medications, and close tooth with temporary filling.
• Takes preliminary impressions for study models, modifies impression tray as needed, pours and trims models, constructs custom impression trays, and retracts gingiva from tooth for final impressions.
• Select, adapt, and seat stainless steel crowns; construct and cement temporary acrylic crowns and bridges.
• Assist in surgical treatment by applying and removing periodontal and post‑extraction dressings and removing sutures.
• Instruct patient in preventive dental care measures, including general nutrition related to dental health, causes of tooth decay, and care of prosthodontic appliances.
• Apply desensitizing agents, tissue conditioners, and other topical agents prescribed by dentist to specified areas of the oral cavity.
• Provide chairside assistance, fully anticipating dentist’s needs for various instruments, materials, and services.
• Demonstrate proper infection control and equipment sterilization procedures, maintain reusable medical equipment for all equipment as required by sterilization guidance, and follow all standard operating procedures.
• Assist in filling gaps in the provider’s schedule due to late cancellations or failed appointments by working with the clinic scheduler, medical support assistant, administrative officer, and/or facility GPM.
• Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information and follow computer security regulations.
• Modify care as necessitated by patient’s age and abilities (patient transfer and position).
• Provide accurate and understandable instructions to patients.
• Work schedule: 7:00 am–3:30 pm Monday to Friday. Telework: not available. Virtual: this is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): not authorized. Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays per year). Pay: competitive salary with regular increases and higher step rate for higher or unique qualifications or special needs.
• Retirement: traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contribution by VA. Insurance: federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care, and other federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.