Dental Assistant assists the dentist in aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

Duties

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 40230A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public. Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery. Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably. Prepares dental medicaments to include desensitizing agents, tissue conditioners and other topical agents prescribed by Dentist and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions. Pours and trims dental models, preserving anatomical landmarks. Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols. Assists in routine general dental procedures. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, and periodontics in the Dental Clinic and in the Operating Room. Advanced Knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures used in the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Prepares the operating room for scheduled dental or maxillofacial procedure. Correctly maintains sterile field, maintaining correct needle and sponge count and properly labeling all medications on the sterile field. Knowledge of reusable medical equipment (RME) being used for dental procedures. Knowledge of common dental disorders and conditions. Secures digital and other clinical imaging tests, as ordered by Dentist. 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. Demonstrates proper infection control in exposing images. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories. Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards. Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images. Assists patients in scheduling appointments. Ensures appointment times are for various dental procedures is appropriate. Ensures patients are scheduled in a timely manner for delivery of crowns, bridges and dental appliances. Ensures all Veterans with emergency or urgent dental needs are scheduled for care in a timely manner. 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. Maintains dental patient files and charts as well as takes telephone messages. Maintains patient confidentiality per I IIPAA regarding written and verbal information. Follows computer security regulations. Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position). Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients. Participates in VA patient identification and 'time out' as specified in JCAHO requirements. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist. Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions. Pours impressions and prepares study models. Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims. Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow. Maintains and cleans dental lab and developing room. Remove sutures and applies pressure gauze bandage. Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication. Removes temporary crowns/bridges and cleans tooth preparation of debris. Restores (places and contours) teeth prepared by Dentist with permanent or temporary fillings. Places and removes sedative fillings. Replacements and fabricates temporary crowns. Provides coronal polishing of teeth. Place rubber dams and matrix bands. Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education. Updates medical history using patient questionnaire. Performs oral prophylaxis (supra gingival cleanings) and applies topical fluoride treatments. Obtains signed consents from patients prior to any surgical procedures. Observes patient for adverse reactions, i.e., syncope, shock etc. during and after dental procedures. Packages tissue and blood samples and routes them to pathology. Other duties as assigned by management.

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 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 a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD). Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD). Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable. 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 not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level, and is required for all positions above the full performance level. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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: 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) 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. Dental Assistant, 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: At least 2 years of experience chairside. 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: 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 Sierra Nevada Health Care System 975 Kirman Avenue Reno, NV 89502 US
• Name: Brittany Strite
• Phone: 3045797687
• Email: [email protected]