Serves as staff dental assistant up to the full performance level for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from the lead or supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist. Performs assigned selected procedures with some independence. Some complex patient procedures are performed under indirect supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.

Duties

Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up treatment rooms as well as during direct patient clinical care and all interactions in the clinical and laboratory settings. Instruments are properly prepared for processing by Sterilization and Processing (SPS) and infection control standards. Shows courtesy, respect and a positive attitude for Veterans, co-workers and the public. Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery. Displays a cooperative attitude and will effectively work together to implement the organization's mission and goals. Sets up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit, dental equipment and countertop for timely turnover. Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Imaging requests are accomplished within an acceptable time frame so as not to delay direct patient clinical care. Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointment. Assists dentist and dental hygienists in charting findings in the electronic health record (to include periodontal probings, etc.) and treatment plans in patient records. Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follows computer and information security regulations per local and national VA policy. Records and monitors patient vitals (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and conditions before, during and after procedures. Assists in the clinical setting and in the operating room. Applies topical fluoride. Removes plaque, staining and soft debris from fixed and removable prosthetics and appliances. Other Duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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 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). 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. GS 3 Grade Requirement None beyond the basic requirements. GS 4 Grade Requirement Experience or Education : . In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level (GS 3) , 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: 1. [Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling]. 2. Basic knowledge of dental procedures and [medical emergencies]. 3. [Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval]. 4. Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment. 5. Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.] GS-5 Grade Requirement 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 (GS 5) 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 to meeting the experience or education requirement listed above, applicants must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): 1. Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic quality] . 2. [Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement]. 3. [Basic] knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures . 4. [Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA]. 5. [Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol]. GS-6 Grade Requirement Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition to the GS -5 requirements listed above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following GS 6 KSA's: 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: Dental Experience preferred, CDA or EFDA preferred, X-ray coursework preferred. 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 GS-6. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs); Light carrying (under 15 lbs); Use of fingers on both hands required; Walking (6 hrs), Standing (6 hrs); Both legs required (1 prosthetic), Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination 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; Ability to distinguish basic colors, 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Martinsburg VA Medical Center 510 Butler Avenue Martinsburg, WV 25405 US
• Name: Pamela Mays
• Phone: 681-219-9860
• Email: [email protected]