Dental Assistant

Overview

Summary

Will serve as a Staff Dental Assistant in the dental clinic at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center - North Charleston Clinic. Duties will be assigned by the supervisory Dental Assistant up to the level of training and expertise. THIS OPEN & CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.

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
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - of VA Handbook 5005 - Qualification Standards
• Basic Experience and/or 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) OR - 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)
• *** 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
• *** Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• GRADE DETERMINATION for Dental Assistant - GS-06 (Full Performance Level)
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met:
  
  Experience:
  
  At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• At the GS-05 level include but are not limited to: responds to basic medical emergencies
• measures and records vital signs
• provides pre- and post- operative instructions
• maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction - suction - irrigation - drying - placing and removing cotton rolls
• using the concepts of four- handed dentistry - assists with basic restorative procedures
• mixes basic dental materials
• assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms
• applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses
• exposes and processes basic dental radiographs
• mounts and labels dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records
• evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality
• maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards
• Knowledge - skills and abilities at the GS-05 grade level are:
  Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic quality
• Broad knowledge of common medical…