Performs advanced clinical techniques & serves as an instructor for dental chairside extern program. Provides services for inpatients, outpatients & nursing home residents under indirect supervision of a dentist or physician. Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to coordinate patient care & represent Dental Service on committees. Orders/maintains required equipment/supplies. Performs other clinical/clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Customer Service Showing courtesy, respect and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public Helping customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery Patient Care Setting up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Handling instruments safely, accurately and efficiently Placing and removing rubber dams Performing supra-gingival scaling of teeth and polishing coronal tooth surfaces Cleaning dental prostheses, fixed and removable Removing and placing temporary crowns Performing temporary and tissue conditioning relining of complete and removable dental prostheses Removing excess cement Obtaining impressions for diagnostic models Obtaining intra-and extra-oral radiographs Managing dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed Dental Laboratory Fabricating provisional crowns and fixed partial dentures Fabricating baseplates, jaw relation rims and final impression trays Patient Education Preparing and providing individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients and caregivers Dental Imaging Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care Clerical Assisting patients in scheduling appointments Information Management Following computer security regulations Patient Safety Providing accurate and understandable instructions to patients Participating in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements Employee Education Preparing and presenting monthly safety training to Dental Service staff Instructing and supervising dental chairside extern students Cardholder Complying with all the acquisition regulations, both Federal, VA, and local in include 8A, small business, Javis Wagner O'Day Act, and mandatory sources Conducting or ensuring required market research to initiate the procurement action utilizing the business targeted by the socioeconomic goal categories with special emphasis on Veteran-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 Making individual purchase not exceeding $3,000 unless specifically authorized to do so by VISN Chief Logistics Officer/Head of Contracting Reconciling purchase card charges within the established time limits Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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 Bargaining Unit position

Requirements

Qualifications

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 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). Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and 1 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). Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable. 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. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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. 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. 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 Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions. 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 completed a Dental Assistant Certification program Employee can expose and produce acceptable diagnostic radiographs 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. Physical Requirements: light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, both legs required, specific visual requirement (be able to see computer) and hearing (aid may be permitted).

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/.

Accreditation Information: The completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from Commission on Dental Accreditation.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by CODA at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CODA website, 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.

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]