Dental Assistant

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Veterans Health Administration

Summary

Dental Assistants 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. Full-performance dental assistants assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and perform other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to all US citizens. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 13th, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

Duties

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 used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care
- Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry
- 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
- Monitors, and performs basic interpretation of, 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
- Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
- Pours impressions and prepares study models
- Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims
- Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses
- Provides procedure-specific, patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
- Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education
- Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration- Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays
- Performs other dental laboratory functions as needed
- Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental-service standards
- Relays patient concerns to treating dentist

Dental Imaging
- Possesses ability to identify normal anatomy
- Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, cephalometric, cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats
- Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider
- Captures images characterized by diagnostic quality and accurately oriented and exposed
- Utilizes dental-imaging safety techniques and retakes are minimized
- Accomplishes imaging requests within desired time frame

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization
- Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
- Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination
- Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPS 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

Clerical Functions
- Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
- Initiates computerized progress note
- Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records

Location: Palo Alto, CA

Salary: $42,782 - $77,866 per year

Pay Scale & Grade: GS-6

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 0800-1630
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 640-01127F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

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:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)

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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-3
Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4
Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level,
OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling.
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies.
• Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval.
• Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment.
• Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.

GS-5
Experience or Education In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
OR,
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience/education above, the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's:

• Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic quality.
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement.
• Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures.
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA.
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.

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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:

• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 PART II APPENDIX G36

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; reaching above shoulders; use of fingers; use of both hands; walking 4 hours; standing 4 hours; sitting 4 hours; repeated bending 4 hours, body in awkward positions while performing dental work; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $42,782.00 - $77,866.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• GS-3 - Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4 - Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level,

OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

• GS-5 - Experience or Education In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

OR,
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.

• GS-6 - Experience. At least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen

Ability to Relocate:

• Palo Alto, CA 94304: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person