The Lead Dental Assistant works with the clinic supervisor or Chief, Dental Service to provide input on work assignments and clinical coverage, provide input on performance, maintain efficient flow of patient care, provide training to staff dental assistants, and students and/or trainees. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments.

Duties

Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: LEAD DUTIES: Provides input on clinical workflow/assignments and provides guidance using advanced knowledge of dental-assisting principles across multiple areas of practice. Provides input in dental-program development, outcome management, and strategic planning. Acts as liaison between dental-assisting staff and supervisor. Provides guidance to other assistants in achieving quality radiographs. Instructs in maintenance of all dental service equipment. Performs room inspections to provide feedback to dental assistants and ensure compliance with infection control guidelines. PATIENT CARE DUTIES: Compliant with patient identification requirements. Compliant with meeting their role in the Medication Reconciliation Process. Compliant with meeting their role in the Time-Out process. Compliant with meeting their role in the IMED consent process. Compliant with infection control protocols in all aspects of the care process. Follows standard operating procedures for all reusable medical equipment (RME) in use in the dental clinical area. DENTAL LABORATORY FUNCTIONS: Pours and trims dental related stone models and fabricates bite rims. Constructs custom impression trays. Polishes dentures and other prosthetic appliances. Fabricates vacuum-formed stints, soft mouth guards, retainers, and fluoride trays. Mount casts on articulators. Utilizes firing oven to complete fabrication of milled dental restorations. ADMINISTRATIVE/CLERICAL DUTIES: Prints Open Encounters Report daily and distributes to providers. Prints Consult Report daily and addresses pending or unscheduled consults. Prints Imaging Consult Report Daily and distributes to providers. Dispositions patients at the time that the patient presents for scheduling or calls to cancel and/or reschedule their appointment. Schedules patients within 14 days of the desired date. Accurately updates patient demographic data. DENTAL IMAGING: Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by provider. 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. Saves and labels images appropriately. INFECTION CONTROL AND EQUIPMENT STERILIZATION: Proficient and demonstrates competency and the ability to set up Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) for all equipment, as applicable and Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS standards. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory. Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination. Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by Sterile Processing Service standards. Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care. EMPLOYEE EDUCATION: Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:Compressed Tours Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English. 3. Education and/or Experience: 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. 4. 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). 5. 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 required for all positions above the full performance level. Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision: 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-7 Lead Dental Assistant Experience: At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: a. Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants. b. Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments. c. Ability to assist in dental program development, outcome management, and strategic planning. d. Skill in acting as liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor. e. Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants. Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of chairside experience. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46, PART II, APPENDIX G36, Dated APRIL 19, 2011 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 VA Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Rolane Jack
• Phone: 808-835-9634
• Email: [email protected]