Dental Assistant

Overview

Dental assistant for routine patient care with indirect supervision from the lead or supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist; direct supervision is given for any complex patient procedures from more experienced dental assistants, lead dental assistant, supervisory dental assistant, or the treating dentist. Assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions with direct supervision, as needed.

• Customer Service:
  Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude towards patients, co-workers and the public; aids customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery.
• Chairside Assisting:
  Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover; passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently; keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably; prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer s instructions; accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols; assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry;
  
  maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standards.
• Dental Imaging:
  Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, ceph, cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats; modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider; images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed; dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized; imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame.
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization:
  Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories; properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPD for sterilization; follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment; works closely with SPS to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed; demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images; utilizes all proper PPE per national and local policies;
  
  follows all hospital infection control protocols including hand hygiene.
• Clerical Functions:
  Assists in filling gaps in doctors  schedules due to late cancellations and failed appointments; assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records; locates/tracks all pending patient lab cases for use during patient appointments; properly completes all dental laboratory cards; initiates computerized progress notes.
• Information Management:
  Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information; follows computer security regulations.
• Patient Safety:
  Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients; participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements; monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.
• Employee
  
  Education:
  
  Practices compliance with Employee Education requirements; completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• Dental Laboratory Functions:
  Pours impressions and prepares study models; makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims; fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays.
• Direct Patient Care:
  Monitors patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure; applies topical anesthetic at the injection site; applies topical fluoride; makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication with guidance from more experienced Dental Assistants.

Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, (Subject to change based on the needs of the service).

• Pay:
  Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• Parental Leave:
  After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy:
  After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement:
  Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance:
  Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Telework:
  Not Available
• Virtual:
  This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #:…