Summary

Dental assistants facilitate direct patient care by working with the Dentist in restorative - prosthodontic - maxillofacial prosthodontic - periodontal - endodontic - and oral surgery procedures. They prepare patients for treatment - schedule appointments - assist with the aspirating of air/water syringes - expose dental radiographs - ad take impressions for provisional crowns. Among other ancillary procedures with the objective of helping clinicians achieve optimal oral health for veteran patients.

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:

• 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.) Experience and Education: (1) Experience
• Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work - or provides familiarity with the work
• OR - (2) Education
• Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• OR - (3) 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)
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (4/19/2011) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the Dental Assistant GS-0681-7 position held - including certification for positions above the full performance level (GS-6) that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements - you must also meet the grade level requirements
• 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 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)
• Assignment
• In this position - the employee performs a higher level - scope - complexity and variety representing the clinical assignment - and applies advanced clinical skills
• Representative duties at this level include - but are not limited to: gathering diagnostic information - pulp vitality testing - charting of existing conditions - placing of rubber dam and matrices - selecting shades - placing retraction cord - placing and removing temporary restorations - fabricating temporary crowns and removing permanent cement from supragingival surfaces
• In addition - the expanded function assistant may place and remove surgical dressing - monitor nitrous oxide analgesia - and perform coronal polishing and the cleaning and polishing of removable prostheses
• Preferred Experience: Must include at least one year of experience at the GS-6 level - certification from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) - and demonstrated proficiency in chairside assisting - dental radiography - and infection control procedures - Must have experience but not limited to working with specialty Providers such as
• Oral Surgeon - Prosthodontist - Periodontist - Endodontist and working with Residents
• 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Functions: Duties listed in this section (a) comprise at least 25% of the clinical expanded function dental assistant's time
• Performs mouth mirror inspection of the oral cavity Gathers diagnostic information Performs pulp vitality testing Charts existing restoration and conditions Selects shades for fixed and removable prostheses Places and removes rubber dams and matrix bands Places and removes retraction cord Places and removes intracoronal temporary restoration Removes temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris Fabricates - adjusts and cements temporary crowns Removes permanent cement from supragingival surfaces Removes sutures Places and removes surgical dressings Monitors nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesic Performs coronal polishing of teeth Removes hard accretions from and polishes removable prostheses Customer Service Shows courtesy - respect - and a positive attitude for patients - co-workers and the public Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns - provides service recovery Chairside Assisting Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably Assists in specialized dental procedures - such as oral surgery - endodontics - periodontics - prosthodontics - implant placement and restoration Dental Imaging Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e
• TMJ - ceph - cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider Images are characterized by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment Clerical Functions Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Initiates computerized progress note Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• 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) Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission 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 Dental Laboratory Functions Pours impressions and prepares study models Makes initial or preliminary denture impression
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow Direct Patient Care Monitors patient vital signs (BP - pulse - pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site Applies topical fluoride Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Work Schedule: 7:00am-3:30pm - M-F Functional Statement #: 50256F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized