Summary

The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System - Dental Service - is currently recruiting four (4) Dental Assistants located in Oklahoma City - OK. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30 - 2025 or until all positions are filled.

Qualifications

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
• Experience and Education Experience
• 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
• 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
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Dental Assistant - GS-3 Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Dental Assistant - 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)
• AND In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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
• Dental Assistant - 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
• AND In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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
• Staff Dental Assistant - GS-6 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• AND In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 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: Light carrying under 15 pounds - Reaching above shoulder - Both hands required - Walking/standing 8-10 hours - Repeated bending - Both legs required - Specific visual requirements (small details) - The ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - Both eyes required - Depth perception - Ability to distinguish colors - Hear.

Duties

• List of major duties and responsibilities of the position
• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Receives and prepares patient for treatment including seating - positioning chair - and placing napkin
• Retrieves all pertinent patient records prior to seating patient
• Performs disinfection and sterilizing procedures
• Prepares procedural trays/armamentaria set ups
• Performs basic chairside assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist
• - Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection-control protocols
• Reports medical emergencies to dentist
• Assists in routine general dental procedures
• Assists with basic restorative procedures
• Maintains a field of operation during dental procedures via retraction - suction - irrigation - drying - placing - and removing cotton rolls
• Mixes basic dental materials
• Assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms
• Provides patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
• Maintains dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standards
• Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday - Friday Compressed/Flexible: Per supervisor discretion Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 53508 - 53409 - 53410 Recruitment Incentives: Yes