Dental Assistant

Full Job Description

The Dental Assistant position is located at the Wilmington VA Medical Center located in Wilmington, DE. Dental Assistants will have the ability to perform routine dental-assisting duties.

They receive guidance from more experienced staff members or the treating dentist for more complex patient issues and require direct daily contact with the work-site supervisor.

At the full performance level Dental Assistants perform 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: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. 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).

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. (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).

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.

NOTE: 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 of38 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. 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.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-3: Experience or Education: (None beyond the above 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).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and abilities: In addition to the experience listed above 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. 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and abilities: In addition to the experience listed above 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. 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and abilities: In addition to the experience listed above the candidate must demonstrate the following 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. Preferred Experience: Prior substantive as Dental Assistant.

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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. f. Major Duties:

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Sets up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans the operatory for a timely turnover.

Keeps operative field clear of debris, passes instruments safely, 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.

Assists in routine general dental procedures. Utilize imaging safety techniques to minimize retakes.

Assists in all basic restorative procedures, including oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics with the general dentist.

Prepares for sterilization by the Sterilization Processing Department (SPD) standards. Assists dentists in charting findings and treatment plans in patients' electronic records.

Maintains patient confidentiality per HIP AA regulations with written and verbal information. Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities.

Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Identifies and reports any possible hazards to the hospital Safety Officer.

Pour impressions and prepare study models. Makes final custom impression trays. Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow.

Provides post-procedural and other appropriate patient education. Complies with other general requirements for VHA / Facility Health Care Professionals.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:45am to 4:15pm. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

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.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.