This Dental Assistant position is within the Surgical Service at the Providence VA Healthcare System, located in Providence, RI. It is full time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

Dental Assistants assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and perform many other clinical and clerical functions independent of direct supervision. The dental assistant receives and prepares patients for dental treatment and assists the dentist chairside, bedside or in the operating room. Dental Assistants at this level serve in staff dental assistant positions independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties with specialist in areas such as endodontics, oral surgery, prosthodontics and periodontics. The Dental Assistant at this level also encourages teamwork by working collaboratively with all team members, other departments, and volunteers, to ensure that tasks are completed. Duties include but not limited to: GS-03 (F04906): Receive Fax transmissions, review for accuracy and completeness, rename and file into appropriate shared folder for review Receive telephone messages and respond appropriately Communicate with VA administrative staff on any care referral questions Sort and forward requests for service from community dental offices for review by lead dentist Communicate needed supporting documentation requests to offices Assist patients in the opt-in process to community care providers Education Outreach to Dental Offices on VA protocols, providing updated guides, correct contact information for other departments as needed Participate in weekly meetings with lead dentist and service chief for process improvement and review GS-04 (F04907): Accurately enter code requests for treatment from community dental offices following the established review and approval process Assist patients in the opt-in process to community care providers Education Outreach to Dental Offices on VA protocols, providing updated guides, correct contact information for other departments as needed Participate in weekly meetings with lead dentist and service chief for process improvement and review GS-05 (F04908): Accurately enter code requests for treatment from community dental offices following the established review and approval process Confirm patient eligibility for requested dental services Review and manage alerts from medical record to manage consult processing and requests Assist patients in the opt-in process to community care providers Education Outreach to Dental Offices on VA protocols, providing updated guides, correct contact information for other departments as needed Participate in weekly meetings with lead dentist and service chief for process improvement and review GS-06 (F04862): Possesses advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry 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 Monitors, and performs basic interpretation of, 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 Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication Pours impressions and prepares study models Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses Provides procedure-specific, patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Work Schedule: Monday- Friday; 8:00a-4:30p Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized. Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 650-F02757. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. This position is a LIUNA Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Applicants must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

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. 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). Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Certification of Radiologic Requirements: 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 OR, 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. Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. 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- GS-03: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04: In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level (GS-03), 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: Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling. Basic knowledge of dental procedures and [medical emergencies. Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval. Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment. Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements. GS-05: 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-04) 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, the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's: Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic quality. Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement. Basic] knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures. Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA. Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol. GS-06: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 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] Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.). Moderate Carrying (15-44lbs) . Pushing (4 hour). Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingers. Both hands required. Walking (up to 4 hours). Standing (up to 4 hours). Repeated bending (up to 4 hour). Depth perception, and the ability to distinguish basic colors required. Near vision correctable at 13" to 16". Hearing (aid permitted). References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 PART II APPENDIX G36

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 VA Providence Healthcare System 830 Chalkstone Avenue Providence, RI 02908 US
• Name: Courtney Kreshak
• Phone: 4012737100
• Email: [email protected]