The Phoenix VA Health Care System is recruiting for one (1) Dental Assistant, in the Dental service. The position is located at the Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center. The Dental Assistant reports to the Supervisory Dentist, Supervisory or Lead Dental Assistant. The incumbent performs a wide range of tasks from patient care, dental imaging, and sterilization procedures. The Dental Assistant is an essential member providing dental care to the Veteran population.

Duties

The Dental Assistant performs tasks under the supervision of supervisory staff. The Dental Assistant assist the Dentist in many aspects of direct patient care, and performs other clinical, and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Assists patients, co-workers, and the public with courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude. Sets up operatory and surgery suite for planned dental procedure. 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. Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication. Exposes both standard, and specialty dental imaging (i.e., TMJ, cephalometric, cone beam) in traditional, and/or digital formats. Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination. Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment. Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule, due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Dental Assistant Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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)], [TRANSCRIPT(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED. CONFERRAL OF DEGREE(S) SHOULD BE PRESENT ON TRANSCRIPT(S). UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) OK.] OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. [TRANSCRIPT(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED. UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) OK.] 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. Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc, [A COPY OF CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] 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, [A COPY OF CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] 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) [A COPY OF CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION]. 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. Assignment. Employees at this level serve as developmental staff dental assistants. Duties 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. 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, AND, In addition to meeting the paragraph above, the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's: 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. Assignment. Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants for routine dental procedures. Direct supervision is given for any complex patient procedures from more experienced dental assistants or the treating dentist. Duties include but are not limited to: responds to basic medical emergencies; measures and records vital signs; provides pre- and post­operative instructions; maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls; using the concepts of four­handed dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures; mixes basic dental materials; assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms; applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses; exposes and processes basic dental radiographs; mounts and labels dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records; evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality; maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards. GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant Experience: 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 technical 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. Assignment. Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Duties include but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays. References: VA Handbook 5005, 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: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (2 hours); near vision corrected to 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; and hearing (aid permitted).

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 Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Stacy Cole
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]