Serves in expanded function dental assistant positions independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties. Must maintain current Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification. DANB provides a list of permissible clinical expanded function duties specific for each state.

Duties

Expanded function duties: Performs reversible intraoral procedures associated with various phases of restorative (prosthodontic and maxillofacial prosthodontic), periodontal, endodontic, and oral surgery procedures. Duties listed in this section (a) comprise at least 25% of the clinical expanded function dental assistant's time. - Performs mouth mirror inspection of the oral cavity - Gathers diagnostic information - Performs pulp vitality testing - Charts existing restoration and conditions - Selects shades for fixed and removable prostheses - Places and removes rubber dams and matrix bands - Places and removes retraction cord - Places and removes intracoronal temporary restoration - Removes temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris - Fabricates, adjusts, and cements temporary crowns and fixed partial dentures. - Removes permanent cement from supragingival surfaces - Removes sutures - Places and removes surgical dressings - Packages tissue specimens and blood samples and routes them to appropriate pathological laboratory - Monitors nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesic - Performs coronal polishing of teeth - Removes hard accretions from and polishes removable prostheses - Records and prints active medications list for patient reconciliation - Observes patient for signs of adverse reactions, syncope, shock, etc. - Participates in the professional development of colleagues through mentorship and teaching - Other administrative duties as assigned Work Schedule: Mon-Fri0730-1700 (8 or 9 hour shifts available) Compressed/Flexible: Yes Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• VA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

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 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. English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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 Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Lead Dental Assistant. At this level, dental assistants serve either as a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Lead Dental Assistant. For all positions above the full performance level, duties must be assigned to the position at least 25% of the time. (a) Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant 1. Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities a. Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions. b. Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc). Preferred Experience: (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). References: VA Handbook 5005/46, Part II, Appendix G36 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-7. Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing, walking, sitting, and bending are required. Sitting at computers for long periods. Utilization of the telephone to place and receive phone calls from patients, staff members, and others is required. Pushing dental instrumentation and equipment on carts down the hallway and lifting instruments and equipment from the carts to the dental delivery unit. Standing on stools and lifting overhead to retrieve and store supplies and equipment. Deliver clean instruments to the clinic at least twice a day from SPS dental service. This involves pushing carts with instruments down hallways and elevators. Lifting of patients from gurneys or wheelchairs into the dental chair for exams, x-rays, and treatment is required. Working Conditions: Work involves regular and recurring exposure to potential hazards of radiation (dental and facial x-rays). Work involves exposure to fire (open flame, use of electrical equipment in the presence of oxygen). Exposure to chemicals (Methylmethacrylates, cements, alcohol, polymers, disinfecting and sterilizing agents). Exposure to blood, saliva, tissue and bone. The dental assistant wears PPE including face mask, protective glasses, gloves and gown. The dental assistant works in a clinic setting with some exposure to the hospital wards and the operating room.

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 Portland Health Care System 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239 US
• Name: Artan Hoxha
• Phone: 5032208262 X58486
• Email: [email protected]