Job opening: Dental Assistant
Salary: $31 512 - 67 379 per year
Published at: Feb 23 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
Dental Assistants at this level serve as staff dental assistants at the full performance level for more routine patient care and perform some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.
Duties
Duties include, but are not limited to:Customer Service
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
Chairside Assisting
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
Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, and periodontics
Dental Imaging
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
Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization
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
Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in handling reusable medical equipment
Demonstrates proper disposal of single use disposable items of equipment
Uses proper disinfection techniques based on manufacturers' guideline for specific equipment (SOP)
Clerical Functions
Assists patients in scheduling appointments
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
Information Management
Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
Follows computer security regulations
Patient Safety
Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
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
Employee Education
Complies with Employee Education requirements
Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions
Dental Laboratory Functions
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
Direct Patient Care
Remove sutures
Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
Remove temporary crown/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
Work Schedule:
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Positions: (1) - Wilkes-Barre Dental Clinic or (1) - Allentown Outpatient Clinic
****All required documentation must be uploaded before the announcement closes, to support eligibility.****
Failure to submit documentation will constitute the application being categorized as incomplete and therefore ineligible for referral.
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/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)]. If you select this option you must provide a copy of your transcripts with your application.
OR
Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. If you select this option you must provide a copy of your transcripts with your application.
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).] (2) 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).
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).
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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-3:Experience or Education: (None beyond the above basic requirements)
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:
GS-4 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: 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.(2) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.(3) In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) above, the applicant must demonstrate the following:
GS-5 KSA's:
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 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)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
1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
5. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures
Preferred Experience: Dental specialty assisting
References: VA Handbook 5005/46, Part II, Appendix G36, Dental Assistant Qualification Standard dated April 19, 2011The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.
Physical Requirements: 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.
****All required documentation must be uploaded before the announcement closes, to support eligibility.
****Failure to submit documentation will constitute the application being categorized as incomplete and therefore ineligible for referral.
Education
IMPORTANT: A
legible 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/.
****All required documentation must be uploaded before the announcement closes, to support eligibility.****
Failure to submit documentation will constitute the application being categorized as incomplete and therefore ineligible for referral.
Contacts
- Address Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center
1111 East End Boulevard
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
US
- Name: Katrina Paul
- Phone: (412) 822-3584
- Email: [email protected]