The VA Central Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Dental Assistant in Dental Service at the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center.

Duties

The Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center is a medical clinic which provides a full range of ambulatory health care services to eligible Veterans. The incumbent will be responsible for performing the duties of a dental assistant in an outpatient dental clinic. The duties of this position include but are not limited to: Assisting dentists in all phases of dentistry including the specialized areas: Prosthodontics (fixed and removable), endodontics (including endodontic surgery), periodontics (including periodontal surgery), and oral surgery (including implant placement). Assisting the dentist as assigned and provide additional support to other assistants and co-workers during the workday. Utilizing the techniques of four-handed dentistry in the dental operatory and assists in the operating room following operating room sterile procedures when assigned to assist on a rotation with our part time Oral Surgeon. Anticipating the operator's needs with a thorough and timely set up and during each stage of treatment, the incumbent passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Contacting patients and facilitating patient scheduling by providing necessary information to Medical Support Assistants. Participating in patient identification and time out procedures per the Joint Commission National Safety Goals. Assisting in monitoring the patient by noting vital signs. Recording the medical history, charting it during the exam, and treatment planning appointments as directed by the dentist. Charting with Dental Record Manager Plus software for patient record management. Assisting in scheduling patients within time constraints established by VHA policies. Completing lab prescriptions and scheduling patients for intermediate prosthetic steps to ensure the completion of care. Preparing dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturers' instructions and labels materials accordingly. Adhering to the necessary clinic standard operating procedures, aseptic technique, and infection control procedures for the entire set-up, treatment, and takedown phases of patient care. Assisting our specialists in periodontics and oral surgery. Assisting the dentist while oral surgical procedures are being performed in procedures which include: simple and complex extractions, reduction of tori and tuberosities, endosseous implant placement, osseous and other periodontal surgeries including graft procedures, sinus lift procedures and biopsies. Using surgical instruments and preparing these specialized procedures. Processing dental radiographs independently with good diagnostic quality and with proper alignment to dental anatomy. Evaluating and retaking dental radiographs when not of diagnostic quality. Saving digital imaging to electronic medical records under direct supervision. Utilizing dental-imaging safety techniques and minimizes retakes. Demonstrating proper infection-control procedures during radiographic procedures. Providing patient-centered preventative education and oral hygiene instructions Demonstrating proper infection control procedures and adherence to clinic standard operating procedures in the preparation and disinfection of dental operatories. Disinfecting dental appliances for movement to and from the dental laboratory. Pouring diagnostic impressions and study models independently. Fabricating provisional restorations, bleaching trays, custom trays, and surgical stents within the scope of their licensure. Adhering to clinic laboratory disinfection standard operating procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91928-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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)]. 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 (1) 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 (2) 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). 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. GS-3 Dental Assistant: Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 Dental Assistant: Experience and Education: Experience: You must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade of a GS-3 level in the Federal service to qualify for the GS-4. Experience equivalent to at least the GS-3 level in the Federal service may include but are not limited to: Assisting dentists in more routine, non-complex patient interactions with guidance from more experienced staff members in procedures requiring close supervision. Anticipating the operator's needs with a thorough and timely set up and during each stage of treatment, the incumbent passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Utilizing the techniques of four-handed dentistry in the dental operatory. OR Education: 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 (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs for the GS-4: 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 Dental Assistant: Experience and Education: Experience: You must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade of a GS-4 level in the Federal service to qualify for the GS-5. Experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal service may include but are not limited to: Receiving and preparing patient for treatment including seating, positioning chair, placing napkin, performing disinfection and sterilization procedures. Performing basic chair side assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist. Reporting medical emergencies to dentist. Preparing procedural trays/armamentaria set-ups. Exposing and processing basic dental radiographs with direct supervision. Mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or saving digital images to the electronic medical record with direct supervision. Complying with standard recommendation for equipment maintenance. Retrieving all pertinent patient records prior to seating the dental patient, Directing patient to appropriate staff for the intent of scheduling visits. OR Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs for the GS-5: 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 Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level): Experience: You must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade of a GS-5 level in the Federal service to qualify for the GS-6. Experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal service may include but are not limited to: Responding to basic medical emergencies. Measuring and recording vital signs. Providing pre-operative and post-operative instructions. Maintaining a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls. Using the concepts of four-handed dentistry. Assisting with basic restorative procedures and mixes basic dental materials. Assisting in preparation of laboratory prescription forms. Appling pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses. Exposing and processing basic dental radiographs. Mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or saving digital imaging to electronic medical records. Evaluating radiographs for diagnostic quality. Maintaining routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs for the GS-6: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/46 PART II, Appendix G36, April 19, 2011 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing or standing are required in the position. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, or 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects is required.

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 Chalmers P Wylie Veterans Outpatient Clinic 420 North James Road Columbus, OH 43219 US
• Name: Alex Thom
• Phone: (317) 760-8646
• Email: [email protected]