The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the nation’s largest integrated health care system, dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to our Veterans. Working within this mission-driven environment means contributing to a vital cause while enjoying modern facilities, innovative technology, and a supportive team of healthcare professionals.

We are seeking a dedicated and energetic Staff Dental Assistant to join our dental team. This position is within the Dental Program located at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center. The position entails a wide range of intra-oral dental procedures and provides chair-side assistance in the clinic and operating room setting. The incumbent assists with, performs and educates patients regarding intra-oral procedures associated with various phases of restorative (prosthodontic and maxillofacial prosthetic), periodontal, endodontic, and oral surgery procedures.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Maintain dental equipment in a clean and operative condition.
Maintain supply levels and inform supervisor when supplies are low.
Provide 4-handed dentistry that includes patient seating, draping, retraction, suction and passing of instruments.
Support and follow all infectious disease policies including proper management of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME).
Provide patient education, including preventive dental care and pre-and post-operative instruction.
Explain elementary rationale for prescribed dental treatments.
Take preliminary medical histories and vital signs to be reviewed by the dentist.
Record information related to the medical and dental history as relayed to the dentist or patient.
Make appointments and handle telephone.
Take impressions for study casts, diagnostic casts or occlusal guards.
Responsible for more than one dentist when required by the clinic.
Maintain current required training.
Other dental supportive services authorized by the licensed dentist while the Registered Dental Assistant is under the direct personal supervision of the licensed dentist, provided that such other dental supportive services are not excluded.
Responsible for Dental Unit Waterline disinfection.

In addition to the procedures listed above:

RESTORATIVEDENTISTRYANDPROSTHODONTICS

Apply topical anticariogenic agents to teeth.
Aid in tooth shade selection.
Place and remove matrix bands.
Select and pre-fit provisional crowns.
Remove temporary cement (not including temporary fillings).
Apply desensitizing agents to teeth.

PERIODONTICS

Remove sutures placed by a licensed dentist.
Maintain periodontal instrumentation and supplies.
Remove protective surgical dressings.

ENDODONTICS

Place and remove rubber dam.
Maintain entire inventory for endodontic instrument.

RADIOGRAPHY

Performs the full range of dental radiography, including cone beam CT.
Take radiographs of inpatients and outpatients according to prescription including periapical, bitewing, occlusal extra-oral (lateral jaw AP) etc; and panoramic radiograph.
Know how to electronically request and record digital images.
Correctly position patients and films/sensor to achieve proper radiographic angles.
Maintain x-ray area, operatory and dark room, monitors levels of all x-ray supplies.
Checks all images to assure diagnostic quality and clarity to enable the examining dentist to have maximum radiographic information.
Provide instruction to newly assigned personnel, other dental assistants, residents and staff as needed.

ORAL SURGERY

Remove sutures placed by a licensed dentist.
Route patients for further medical testing when required.
Assist dentist in all oral surgical procedures including implants.
Maintain sterility according to clinic and medical center procedures.
Keep inventory of all equipment and supplies and informs supervisor when supplies are inadequate.
Prepare instruments sterile trays, equipment and materials and assumes that they are present and properly arranged for the operative procedure.
Preparation of general anesthesia, I.V. nitrous oxide and oxygen anesthesia equipment.
All drugs must be properly dated and checked each month for expiration dates.
Orient new residents, dental assistants, students and staff to surgical routines.
Maintain supply levels and inform supervisor when supplies are low.
Provide 4-handed dentistry that includes patient seating, draping, retraction, suction and passing of instruments.
Support and follow all infectious disease policies including proper management of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME).
Provide patient education, including preventive dental care and pre-and post-operative instruction.
Explain elementary rationale for prescribed dental treatments.
Take preliminary medical histories and vital signs to be reviewed by the dentist.
Record information related to the medical and dental history as relayed to the dentist or patient.
Make appointments and handle telephone.
Take impressions for study casts, diagnostic casts or occlusal guards.
Responsible for more than one dentist when required by the clinic.
Maintain current required training.
Other dental supportive services authorized by the licensed dentist while the Registered Dental Assistant is under the direct personal supervision of the licensed dentist, provided that such other dental supportive services are not excluded.
Responsible for Dental Unit Waterline disinfection.

Qualifications

***Please understand if selected, there is a VA course you can enroll that would provide the Certification of Radiologic Competence requirements to administer dental X-rays.

Basic Requirements:

a. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

b. 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).
(3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
c. 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.

(1) 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).

(2) Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a) (1) (D). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This will result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment.

(3) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

f. 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 for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-6 Staff 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.
1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
5. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

(c) Assignment. Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.

Preferred Experience: 1 year experience as a Dental Assistant

Pay: $53,512.00 - $69,565.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Life insurance
Opportunities for advancement
Paid sick time
Paid time off
Retirement plan
Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Department of Veterans Affairs

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Staff Dental Assistant