Dental Assistant

Overview

Summary

Dental Assistants at this level serve as staff dental assistants at the full performance level for more routine patient care and perform some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor. The Dental Assistants assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and perform other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

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
• Experience and Education
• 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
• Educations standards: they must have completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Certification options for radiologic competence: (a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board - Inc; OR (b) Completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations; OR (c) Completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the DoD
• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D); failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• DANB certification is not required but is highly desirable up to the full performance level and is required for all positions above the full performance level
• English Language Proficiency:
  Proficient in spoken and written English
• Grandfathering provision may apply for current VHA employees in this occupation

• Grade Determinations: GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant
• Experience:
  
  At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• Technical knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs):
• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures in restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs
• Ability to provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures

• Assignment:
  The employee serves at the full performance level with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor, or treating dentist
• Responsibilities include but are not limited to four-handed dentistry and support for specialty procedures (oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement/restoration)
• Anticipates surgeons’/specialists’ needs; assists with preliminary impressions; handles materials for casts; fabricates custom trays
• Clincal support includes imaging, infection control, and patient education
• References: 5005/46 Part II Appendix G36

• Physical Requirements: Light lifting and…