Dental assistants serve with the ability to perform a 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. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a. Experience and Education (1) Experience. 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. 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). (1) 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). (2) 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. (3) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable. (4) 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. (5) 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. Grade Determinations: GS-6 (a) 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy. 2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures. 3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs. 4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist 5. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. 6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry. 7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. 8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 PART II APPENDIX G36 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. ["Work Schedule: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm or as determined by supervisor Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Patient Care - Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover - Possesses advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care - 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 per manufacturer's instructions - Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols - Monitors, and performs basic interpretation of, patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure - 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-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction - Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education - Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration - Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays - Performs other dental laboratory functions as needed - Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental-service standards - Relays patient concerns to treating dentist Dental Imaging - Possesses ability to identify normal anatomy - Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, cephalometric, cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats - Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider - Captures images characterized by diagnostic quality and accurately oriented and exposed - Utilizes dental-imaging safety techniques and retakes are minimized - Accomplishes imaging requests within desired time frame Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization - Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories - Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination - Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization - Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment - Works closely with SPS to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed - Demonstrates proper infection-control procedures in exposing images Clerical Functions - Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments - Initiates computerized progress note - Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records Patient Safety - Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position) - Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients - Participates in patient identification and time out per The Joint Commission requirements - Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
