The Lead Dental Assistant works with the Supervisor or Chief Dental Service to monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues, and maintain efficient flow of patient care; may approve brief periods of leave, provide training to staff dental assistants, students and/or trainees; may recommend special advancements and promotions, disciplinary actions, etc.

Duties

The Lead Dental Assistant facilitates team or unit processes by working collaboratively with team members or other employees to ensure that tasks are completed, that good working relationships among team members and with management are maintained, and that team priorities and goals, needs, and achievements are coordinated with management. Dental Assistants also perform the full range of duties for routine patient care and other clinical and clerical functions independent of direct supervision. Incumbent must meet the needs of customers while supporting VA Missions; consistently communicate and treat customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA Staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner; provide customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures; and handle conflict and problems in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately. Employee displays a cooperative attitude and will effectively work together to implement the organization's mission and goals. Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery Lead or Other Higher-Level Duties Coordinates clinical workflow/assignments and provides guidance using advanced knowledge of dental-assisting principles across multiple areas of practice. Assists in dental-program development, outcome management, and strategic planning Acts as liaison between dental-assisting staff and supervisor Maintains professional oversight and serves as consultant to staff dental assistants Provides guidance to other assistants in achieving quality radiographs Instructs in maintenance of all dental service equipment while interfacing Biomed Provides primary support to the Dental Section Chief for the daily delivery of department programs, reporting, staffing and scheduling. Coordinates patient's care plans to reduce redundancies and delay in patient treatment Verifies eligibility, inputs work orders, maintains SDS binders, assists with RMD SOPs, instrument inventory and timekeeping. 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 tissue effectively and comfortably 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, periodontics and prosthodontics Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes and minimized Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame 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 is scheduling appointments Assists in filling gaps in th appointments Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress I. Employee Education Complies with Employee Education requirements Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Pours impressions and prepares study models if needed Performs other laboratory functions Remove sutures Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication Remove temporary crown or bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris Recement and fabricate temporary crowns Coronal polishing of teeth Place rubber dams and matrix bands Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Compressed/Flexible: May be Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58770-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). 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 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). Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This will result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment. 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. 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: Lead Dental Assistant, GS-7 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: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities ~ Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions. Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc). Assignment: In this position, the employee performs a higher level, scope, complexity and variety representing the clinical assignment, and applies advanced clinical skills. Representative duties at this level include, but are not limited to: gathering diagnostic information, pulp vitality testing, charting of existing conditions, placing of rubber dam and matrices, selecting shades, placing retraction cord, placing and removing temporary restorations, fabricating temporary crowns and removing permanent cement from supragingival surfaces. In addition, the expanded function assistant may place and remove surgical dressing, monitor nitrous oxide analgesia, and perform coronal polishing and the cleaning and polishing of removable prostheses. 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: 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: 1. Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or [changed to lower grade] within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees [MUST] meet the [certification] requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. 2. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. 3. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. 4. If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves [the] occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Preferred Experience: Experience with dental eligibility and DRM preferred References: VA Handbook 5005/46, Part II Appendix G36, Dental Assistant Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying, use of both hands, fingers, reaching above shoulders, walking, standing, sitting, depth perception, rapid mental and muscular coordination.

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 Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: Barbara Ruicker
• Phone: 918-616-1494
• Email: [email protected]