Job opening: Dental Assistant
Salary: $44 117 - 57 354 per year
Published at: Jul 23 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position serves as a dental assistant position within the Bay Pines VA, independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties while receiving general administrative supervision, or in lead or supervisory dental assistant positions. The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.
Duties
Set up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
Keep operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions.
Accomplish all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols.
Assist in specialized dental procedures, such as oral maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, and surgical periodontics.
Demonstrate proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories.
Complete all documentation in accordance with facility policy and is responsible for proper use, cleaning, and documentation of pertinent reusable medical equipment in accordance with medical center policies.
Assist in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments.
Perform additional administrative and clerical duties assigned by the Chief of Dental Services.
Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.
Participate in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements.
Monitor patient (BP, pulse EKG, pulse oximeter), and condition during moderate sedation and during recovery period following procedure.
Perform other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow.
Provide post-operative and other appropriate patient education.
Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 20307F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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:
a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to
recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
b. 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
(a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.;
OR,
(b) 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,
(c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).
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.
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including [ ] certification [(for positions above the full performance level)] that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or [changed to lower grade] within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees MUST meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria
must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-6 Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)
(a) 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:
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 PART II APPENDIX G36
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.
Physical Requirements: The physical demands bf the work include moderate lifting (15-44 lbs), heavy carrying (45 lbs and over), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable !at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, good distant vision in one eye, ability to hear whisper There is moderate walking (3-4 hrs) and some extended periods of standing (3-4 hrs). See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 for further requirements.
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:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Contacts
- Address CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
10000 Bay Pines Boulevard
Bay Pines, FL 33744
US
- Name: Jayme Cooper
- Phone: 717-222-1893
- Email: [email protected]
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