Dental Assistant

Summary

Dental assistants serve with the ability to perform a range of duties and perform assigned selected procedures with some independence. They receive guidance from more experienced staff members for complex patient issues for which they require direct supervision and daily contact with the supervisor at the work site. 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
• English Language Proficiency:
  Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a
• Experience and Education
  • 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)
  • 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
• The radiologic credentialing requirements include
  • Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board - Inc.
  • Or - completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations
  • Or - 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 the 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 of the temporary appointment
• This may result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is preferred; DANB certification is recognized by the American Dental Association
• DANB certification is not required for appointment up to full performance level, but is required for all positions above the full performance level
• Loss of Credential:
  An employee who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame or fails to maintain licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment
• Grandfathering provision may apply to current VA employees in this occupation who meet criteria
• Grade Determinations: GS-6
• Experience:
  
  At least 1 year at the next lower grade level with demonstrated core competencies
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA):
  • Ability to identify normal oral anatomy
  • Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures
  • Ability to monitor and interpret vital signs
  • Ability to provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to the treating dentist
  • 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
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Registered Dental Assistant Licensure
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Standards/
• 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-6.

• Work Schedule:
  
  M-F 8:00am-4:30pm or as determined by supervisor
• Relocation/Recruitment
  
  Incentives:
  
  Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
  Not Authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):
  Not Authorized
• Financial Disclosure Report:
  Not required
• Major duties include but are not limited to the following:
• Patient Care - Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover; possesses advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures; assists in routine general dental procedures using four-handed dentistry; passes instruments safely and efficiently; maintains sterile field; prepares medicaments and impression materials; monitors vital signs; applies topical anesthetic; takes impressions; prepares study models;
  
  provides patient education; assists in specialized…