The Dental Assistant assists the Dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. The Dental Assistant receives and prepares patients for dental treatment and assists the Dentist at chairside, bedside or in the operating room.

Duties

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. Duties include but are not limited to the following: 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 and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed Dentistry Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standard Monitors patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site Applies topical fluoride Makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Suture Removal Re-cement and fabricate temporary crowns EFDA only Coronal polishing of teeth Place rubber dams Pours impressions and prepares study models Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims Fabricates occlusal guards and bleaching trays Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, ceph, cone beam) in digital formats Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider 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 Shares comprehensive working knowledge of imaging techniques and provides instruction to others Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care Works closely with SPS to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment Provide assistance to customers with questions or concerns, providing service recovery Assist patients with scheduling appointments, enter RTC orders accurately and efficiently Assist 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 Accurate documentation of lab cards, bone grafting procedures, implant procedures, biopsy procedures, completing chart notes in DRM for providers in a timely manner Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• 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 seasonal influenza program may be required
• To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

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. Education/Experience - Experience. (1) Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR, (2) Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Certification - Public Law 9735 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. Alternative 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). Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification - Required for all position above the Full Performance level Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Verification of the certification can be made by going to https://www.danb.org/. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with Chapter 2, Section D, Paragraph 5a. Grade Determinations: GS-7 Requirements: For all assignments above the full performance level, the employee performs a higher level, scope, complexity and variety representing the clinical assignment, and applies advanced clinical skills. In addition to meeting all the basic requirements listed above, At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies which include the 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, and Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures. Knowledge, Skills, 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). References: VHA 5005, Appendix G36, Dental Assistant Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Preferred Experience: Expanded Functions Dental Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant, VA experience. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); Light carrying (under 15 pounds); Straight pulling (0.5 hours); Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (1 hour); Standing (3 hours); Repeated bending (1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordinating simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental & emotional stability under stress required; Typing/computer work (6 hours); Ability to administer chest compressions (BLS Certification). Environmental Factors: Excessive noise, intermittent; Constant noise; Fumes, smoke, or gases; Solvents (degreasing agents); Working around machinery with moving parts; Working with hands in water; Working closely with others; Working alone.

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 White City VA Medical Center 8495 Crater Lake Highway White City, OR 97503 US
• Name: Angelica Jimenez
• Phone: (541) 440-1000 X40641
• Email: [email protected]