Job opening: Dental Assistant
Salary: $46 036 - 59 848 per year
Published at: Dec 06 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The incumbent performs a wide range of intra-oral dental procedures and provides chairside assistance in the clinic. Performs reversible intra-oral procedures associated with various phases of restorative, prosthodontic and maxillofacial prosthetic, periodontal, endodontic, implantology, and surgery procedures.
Duties
Duties may include but are not limited to:
Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
Obtains accurate information necessary for the radiology request and closes pending imaging consults in a timely manner
Follows all Standard Operating Procedures, i.e., Reusable Medical Equipment.-Initiates computerized progress note
Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients.
Complies with Employee Education requirements
Monitors patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure.
Performs dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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:
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: must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Education and/or Experience:
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: 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).
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-6 Dental Assistant
Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level 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.
Preferred Experience: DENTAL RADIOLOGY certificate - NOT REQUIRED can be completed the first week of on-boarding. Two years of experience preferred.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46, PART II, APPENDIX G36The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.
Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (4 hours); Standing (4 hours); Kneeling; Repeated bending; DVA&NVA binocular 20/20; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Mental/Emotional stability
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
If your school was accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CODA website
Search for Dental Programs | Commission on Dental Accreditation (ada.org), you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
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 Durham VA Medical Center
508 Fulton Street
Durham, NC 27705
US
- Name: Lanesha Failey
- Phone: (281) 435-4697
- Email: [email protected]
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