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. Program 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. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

Major Duty: Chairside Assisting Responds to basic medical emergencies Measures and records vital signs Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Charts existing restorations and conditions Select shades for fixed and removable prosthesis Provide chair-side assistance, fully anticipating the 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 Supports dentist in endodontic treatments by applying and removing rubber dams and cleansing and drying operative fields. Assists in surgical treatment by applying and removing periodontal and postextraction dressings and removing sutures. Applies desensitizing agents, tissue conditioners, and other topical agents prescribed by the dentist to specified areas of the oral cavity. Supports dentist in oral prophylaxis treatments by flossing, polishing teeth, and applying topical fluoride Removes temporary cement from supragingival surfaces Removes plaque and soft debris from 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 the 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 Disinfect 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 to cancellations and failed appointments Assists the 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 the recovery period following the 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-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 688-24112-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the 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: 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. 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). Creditable Experience: (a) Knowledge of Current Professional Dental Assistant Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities [(KSAs)], and other characteristics (also referred to as "core competencies") associated with current professional dental assisting practice. Evidence of such experience includes graduation from a certified dental assisting training program, experience in private practice, VHA, Department of Defense (DoD), or other federal[, state, community or charitable] health care agency. (b) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable after the training program certifies that the individual has completed all required courses, an internship if it is part of the program, and graduated with passing grades. (c) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a dental assistant is credited according to its relationship to full-time workweek. For example, a dental assistant would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. (2) Expanded Function Level. Expanded function level is defined as possessing the training and ability to provide independent and expert dental procedures as well as providing clinical assistance to the treating dentists in more complex procedural cases. The expanded function dental assistant has an increased depth and breadth of dental practice skills, and has mastered a range of dental procedures and interventions and provides direct patient care within the scope of practice. Examples of procedures may be diagnostic, restorative and/or surgical in nature. The expanded function dental assistant will make independent professional decisions and recommendations to the treating dentist and interdisciplinary care teams. The expanded functional dental assistant has the expertise to participate in the professional development of colleagues through mentorship and teaching]. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS 06- 1. Experience: To qualify at the GS-6 grade level, you must meet the following: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. GS-05 experience would include: 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. AND 2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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 the 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. Assignment. The employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform a full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor, or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to, using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assisting with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic, and implant placement, and restoration; anticipating surgeons/specialist's needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays. Preferred Experience: Certified Dental Assistant and/or Registered Dental Assistant. At least 3 years of Dental assistant experience is preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 PART II APPENDIX G36. DENTAL ASSISTANT QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-681 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06, and the actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 06. Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing, walking, and bending are required. Work involves the danger of exposure to radiation and communicable diseases. The assistant uses lead shields to protect against radiation and wears face masks, gloves, gowns, and eye protection during treatment procedures.

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: Carla White
• Phone: 1-832-316-9423
• Email: [email protected]