The Dental Assistant will assist the dentist in all aspects of direct patient care and perform other clinical and clerical functions with little or no supervision from the dentist, lead dental assistant, or supervisor.

Duties

If you are not a current Federal employee, please apply under Vacancy CBST-12151074-23FIJ. Duties include but are not limited to: Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery. Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Passes instruments safely, accurately and efficiently. Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions. Exposures both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, ceph, cone beam) in digital format. Modifies settings to achieve images requested by the provider. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories. Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination. Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Initiates computerized progress note. Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient record. Pours impressions and prepares study models. Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims. Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays. Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allowed. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm, (subject to changed based on the needs of the agency) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement: 520-00609-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Basic Requirements: Citizen of the United States: (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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. (1) Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence (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). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification (for positions above the full performance level) that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Grade Determinations: Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Dental Assistant GS-3: Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Dental Assistant 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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.] Dental Assistant 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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]. Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) GS-6: 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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: 1. Prefer at least 3 years of Dental Assistant experience. 2, Completion a Dental Assistant Certification program; Radiology certification. 3. Experience in various areas of Dentistry using the concepts of four-handed dentistry. 4. Experience using electronic dental record. 5. Basic Life Support Certification. 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: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over); Light Carrying (15-44 lbs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 4 hours); Standing (up to 4 hours); Both legs required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and emotional stability required. This position requires some exposure to blood borne pathogens, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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 Biloxi VA Medical Center 400 Veterans Avenue Biloxi, MS 39531 US
• Name: Faiza Jamil
• Phone: 9084446797 X5433
• Email: [email protected]