The Dental Assistant assists the Dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Serve as staff dental assistants for routine patient care and perform more complex patient procedures under the general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.

Duties

Dental Assistants at this level serve as staff dental assistants at the full performance level for routine patient care and perform more complex patient procedures under the general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor. It is expected that a GS-6 level assistant perform more complex procedures while receiving less frequent supervision than at the GS-3-5 level. Compliant in Customer Service. Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public. Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery. Compliant in Chair-side Assisting. Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. 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. Assists in routine general dental procedures. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, and prosthodontics. Compliant in Dental Imaging. Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame. Compliant in Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories. Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards. Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images. Compliant in Clerical Functions. Assists patients in scheduling appointments. Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Assists dentist in charting findings, treatment plans, and treatment in patient records (including the use of Millennium, Dental Record Manager, and VISTA). Performs other clerical duties as assigned. Compliant in Information Management. Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follows computer security regulations. Compliant in 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 Joint Commission (JC) requirements. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Compliant in Employee Education. Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions. Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) Qualification. Compliant in Dental Laboratory Functions. Pours impressions and prepares study models. Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims. Prepares cases for the dental laboratory and ensures timely retrieval of completed cases from the laboratory. Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow. Compliant in Direct Patient Care. Remove sutures. Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication. Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris. Recement and fabricate temporary crowns. Vital signs monitoring. Administers oxygen (in emergencies and routinely via transfer from patient's oxygen tank to the same liter flow on operatory oxygen and returns to patient's oxygen after treatment). Applies fluoride products, as ordered by dentist. Applies topical anesthetics, as ordered by dentist. Applies other topical medications and medicaments, as ordered by dentist. Administers pre-procedural mouth rinses, as ordered by dentist. Coronal polishing of teeth. Place rubber dams and matrix band. Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education. Telephonically addresses patient care issues and documents for review by the dentist. Performs other permissible direct patient care issues as time and skill levels allow. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: 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. 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: GS-3. Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment: Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues, and require daily close supervision. 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, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 or Education: 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 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. Preferred Experience: Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Radiology certificate, 2+ years experience References: VA Handbook 5005/46 Part II Appendix G36 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 light carrying (under 15lbs), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, standing, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, depth perception, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), emotional and mental stability, critical thinking skills, reaching, twisting, full dexterity of both arms, wrists, hand and fingers. Work in excessive noise, intermittent, fumes, smoke, or gases, unusual fatigue factors, working alone, aerosols, flame, solvent fumes, and bodily fluids.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4815 North Assembly Street Spokane, WA 99205 US
• Name: Rebecca Hanson
• Phone: 509-434-7320
• Email: [email protected]