Dental Assistant

Full Job Description

The Dental Assistant position with the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is located at the Conroe Clinic.

The Dental Assistant responsibilities include responding to basic medical emergencies; recording vital signs; providing pre- and postoperative instructions; maintaining a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls; and using the concepts of fourhanded dentistry.

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. 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)., OR 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.

Exception.

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.

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).

Grade Determinations: Your experience must be evident in your resume. GS-03 (Entry Level) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04 (Developmental Level) Experience or Education: (1) In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-03).

OR (2) Two years of education above high school that included completion of a Dental Assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's CODA.

AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs in their resume: 1.

Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling. 2. Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies. 3.

Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval. 4. Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment. 5.

Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.

GS-05 (Developmental Level) Experience or Education: (1) In addition to the requirements listed at GS-04 above, applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

OR (2) 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs in their resume: 1.

Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality. 2. Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement. 3.

Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures. 4. Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA. 5.

Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol. GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience.

At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs in their resume: 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. Preferred Experience: Experience planning dental procedures.

Experience passing instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently (four-handed dentistry). Experience with intra-operative procedures within the standard infection control protocols.

Experience independently exposing both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e., TMJ, Ceph, Cone Beam) in traditional and/or digital formats. Experience taking clinically acceptable x-rays.

Experience working with Nomad Portable X-ray Devices. Experience correctly mounting images in CPRS/DRM Plus System within the desired timeframe and can minimize retakes.

Works independently and with multiple providers daily in a fast-paced environment. Meets the needs of customers and effectively communicate dental terminology with the customer and the dental team.

Effectively interacts in a professional & courteous manner with supervisor and other employees to facilitate the accomplishment of the work of the organization.

Experience in all areas of dentistry including; General, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Endodontics and other areas if called to perform.

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-06.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position.

May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing.

May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional **If you are not a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply CBST-12875080-26-SC.** Duties include but are not limited to: Adjusts to change or work pressure in a pleasant manner, handle differences of opinion in a businesslike fashion, follow instructions conscientiously, and function as a team member, helping the group effort where possible.

Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Passes instrument safely, accurately, and efficiently.

Keeps operative filed clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably. Prepares dental medicaments and impression material per manufacturer's instructions.

Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols. Assists in routine general dental procedures. Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e.

TMJ, ceph, cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats. Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider.

Shares comprehensive working knowledge of imaging techniques and provides instruction to others.

Places contaminated instruments in bins for sterilization by SPS verifying that the correct instruments are in each kit. Enters notes into the VistA or CPRS data base and Dental Record Manager Plus.

Schedules patients, completes routing slips, and completes appointment management duties. Verifies that all digital images are sent and received in VISTA imaging.

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 JCAFIO requirements. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.

Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions. Pours impressions and prepares study models. Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims.

Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow.

Places appropriate instruments and materials in the operatory/ for the identified procedure so that there is no break in the treatment to retrieve something that was not available.

Passes instruments according to the technique developed for dentist. In addition, keeps field clear for operation, free of debris, water and/or blood.

Takes clinically acceptable x-rays and trains new hires on all x-ray equipment as needed.

Follows clinic and facility infection control practices between patients and ensures all other dental assistants are doing so.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday: 7:30am - 4:00pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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).

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 580-02279-F, 580-02280-F, 580-02281-F, 580-02282-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized