Dental Assistant

Overview Dental Assistants have the ability to perform a full range of duties and perform assigned selected procedures with some independence. They receive guidance from more experienced staff members for complex patient issues for which they require direct supervision and daily contact with the supervisor at the work site. Dental assistants assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and perform other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

Base pay range $39,192.00/yr - $71,326.00/yr

Qualifications NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION - REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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: 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)

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 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)

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)

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

Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame - or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment

English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part

Grade Determinations: GS-3 Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements

GS-4 Experience or Education: 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

GS-5 Experience or Education: 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 Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA

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

GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant: Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates 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

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 in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: This work requires moderate lifting (15-44lbs) - light lifting (under 15lbs) - moderate carrying - use of fingers - both hands required - standing - repeated bending - near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4 - depth perception - and hearing (aid may be permitted)

Environmental factors are working around radiation.

Duties

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES

FOR MORE INFORMATION - REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Functions

Customer Service — Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public

Assists customers with questions or concerns

Patient Care

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

Possesses advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures

Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry

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

Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols

Monitors and performs basic interpretation of patient vital signs and condition during invasive treatment and recovery period

Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site

Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication

Pours impressions and prepares study models

Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims

Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses

Provides procedure-specific patient-preventive education and oral hygiene instruction

Assists in specialized dental procedures

Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays

Performs other dental laboratory functions as needed

Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment

Relays patient concerns to treating dentist

Seniority level Entry level

Employment type Full-time

Job function Health Care Provider Industries: Government Administration

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