Candidates at this grade level serve as Expanded Function Dental Assitants (EFDA) performing advanced clinical techniques, and serve as instructors for dental chairside exam program. Provide services for inpatients, out patients and nursing home residents under the indirect supervison of a dentist or physican. Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to coordinate pateint care and represents the Dental Service on Medical Center Committees as assigned.

Duties

The EFDA provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Customer Service Helps customers with questions or concerns, provides services recovery Patient Care Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently Places and removes rubber dams Performs supra-gingival scaling of teeth and polishes coronal tooth surfaces Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable Removes and places temporary crowns Performs temporary and tissue conditioning relining of complete removable dental prosthese Removes excess cement Obtains impression for diagnostic models Obtains intra- and extraoral radiographs Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed Applies desensitizing and sealant materials Administers topical and anesthetic agents Irrigates surgical sites and applies post-operative surgical dressings Removes sutures and evaluates healing Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols Dental Laboratory Fabricates provisional crowns and fixed partial dentures Fabricates baseplates, jaw relation rims and final impression trays Trims and articulates models Performs denture prophylaxis Patient Education Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatient, outpatients, and caregivers Dental Imaging Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory 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 Clerical Functions Assists patients in scheduling appointments Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records Information Management Maintains patient confidentiality per HIP AA with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations Patient Safety Modifies care as appropriate for 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 Prepares and presents monthly Safety Training to Dental Service Staff Instruct and supervise dental chairside extern students Coordinates activity with in-house and external dental general practice residencies Cardholder Duties Incumbent is a purchase card holder and complies with all the acquisition regulations, both Federal, VA and local to include 8A, small business, Javis Wagner O'Day Act, and mandatory sources. Conducts or ensures required market research to initiate the procurement action utilizing the business targeted by the socioeconomic goal categories with special emphasis on veterans-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, but also includes other small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a) businesses, woman-owned small businesses, and HUB-Zone businesses. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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)]. 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, and is required for all positions above the full performance level. 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-7 Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 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). Preferred Experience: Experience in oral surgical procedures Proficient in impression making Excellent operative and prosthodontic assisting skills Employee has experience in various areas of Dentistry (Endo, Restorative, Oral Surgery, Implants, Periodontics, etc.). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07 Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. Some work on nights/weekends/holidays as needed.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)] Find a Program | Commission on Dental Accreditation (ada.org).

Note: If your school was accredited by CODA and can no longer be found on the accrediting body websites above, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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 Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Amarillo, TX 79106 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]