Dental Assistant

Summary

The Dental Assistant position with the Michael

E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is located at the Conroe Clinic. The Dental Assistant responsibilities include responding to basic medical emergencies; recording vital signs; providing pre- and postoperative instructions; maintaining a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction - suction - irrigation - drying - placing and removing cotton rolls; and using the concepts of four handed dentistry.

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.

• 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
• Experience and
  
  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 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
• Exception
• 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
• Grade Determinations:
  Your experience must be evident in your resume
• GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs in their resume: 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
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Experience planning dental procedures
• Experience passing instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently (four-handed dentistry)
• Experience with intra-operative procedures within the standard infection control protocols
• Experience independently exposing both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e.
  
  - TMJ - Ceph - Cone Beam) in traditional and/or digital formats
• Experience taking clinically acceptable x-rays
• Experience working with Nomad Portable X-ray Devices
• Experience correctly mounting images in CPRS/DRM Plus System within the desired timeframe and can minimize retakes
• Works independently and with multiple providers daily in a fast-paced environment
• Meets the needs of customers and effectively communicate dental terminology with the customer and the dental team
• Effectively interacts in a professional & courteous manner with supervisor and other employees to facilitate the accomplishment of the work of the organization
• Experience in all areas of dentistry including
• General - Periodontics - Prosthodontics - Endodontics and other areas if called to perform
• Reference: For more…