This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

Chairside Assisting Responds to basic medical emergencies. Measures and records vital signs. Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Charts existing restorations and conditions. Selects shades for fixed and removable prostheses. Provides chair side assistance, fully anticipating dentist's needs for various instruments, materials, and services. Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably. Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions. Performs pulp vitality testing Supports dentist in endodontic treatments by applying and removing rubber dam and cleansing and drying operative field. After dentist treats patient, irrigatestooth, applies prescribed medications and closes tooth with temporary filling. Places and removes retraction cord. Places and removes intra-coronal temporary restoration. Removes temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris. Fabricates, adjusts, and cements temporary crowns. Removes temporary and permanent cement from supragingival surfaces. Assists in surgical treatment by applying and removing periodontal and post ­extraction dressings and removing sutures. Applies desensitizing agents, tissue conditioners and other topical agents prescribed by dentist `to specified areas of the oral cavity. Supports dentist in oral prophylaxis treatments by flossing, polishing teeth and applying topical fluoride. Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses. Removes hard accretions from and polishes removable prostheses. Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocol. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, and surgical periodontics. Dental Imaging Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed. Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, cone beam) in Digital Formats. Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by provider. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame Infection Control Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning dental operatories. Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination. Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization. Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment Instruments are properly pre-treated for pick-up by SPS personnel. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Clerical Functions Assists in filling gaps in the dentist's schedule due cancellations and failed appointments. Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records. Assist with entering Return to Clinic Orders 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. Monitors patient (BP, pulse), and condition during invasive procedures and during recovery period following procedure Employee Education Complies with Employee Education requirements. Maintains BLS certification that includes operation of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) per Medical Center Policy Dental Laboratory Functions Takes preliminary impressions for study models. 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 Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 08:00am - 04:30pm Telework: Not Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected] EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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: 1. United States Citizenship. All applicants are required to be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.) 2. English Language Proficiency. Dental Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 3. 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. 4. 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. (1) Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence To be registered as a Level II Dental Assistant one must: i. Have graduated from high school or hold a general equivalency diploma AND ii. a. Successfully complete a dental assisting education program approved by the D.C. Board of Dentistry or accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) AND b. Hold current DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification or other dental assisting certification approved by the Board. AND iii. Complete a course in dental radiography training consisting of at least twenty-four (24) hours of coursework in radiology, radiation safety, biology, and physics, and has successfully passed the examination(s) required for successful completion of the program. 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-7 Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant At this level, dental assistants serve either as a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Lead Dental Assistant. For all positions above the full performance level, duties must be assigned to the position at least 25% of the time. 1. Clinical Expanded Function Dental AssistantExperience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-06) or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities a. Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions. b. Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc). 3. Required core competencies described at the GS-06 level. 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 4. 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. Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing, walking and bending are required. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.) The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. Preferred Experience: Prefer at least 3 years of Dental Assistant experience.

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 Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Trudy Wachala
• Phone: 4106057000 X51841
• Email: [email protected]