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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant Near Sioux Falls, SD

Qualifications:

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
  • 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).]
  • 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.
  • Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
  • Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level, and is required for all positions above the full performance level.]
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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:

Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant GS-7

• Experience: At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-6) or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Examples of experience include: 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, and ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is required for all positions above the full performance level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
  • Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions
  • Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc)

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 APRIL 19, 2011 PART II APPENDIX G36

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Responsibilities:

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Dental assistants at this level perform a higher level, scope, complexity and variety of dental assisting duties representing the clinical assignment and apply advanced clinical skills. The clinical expanded function dental assistant also performs the full range of duties for routine patient care with indirect supervision from the lead or supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist. Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistants perform assigned selected procedures with some independence. Some complex patient procedures are performed under indirect supervision of a more experienced clinical expanded function dental assistant or dentist.

Dental Assistants at this level serve in expanded function dental assistant positions independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties. Incumbents must maintain Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification. DANB provides a list of permissible clinical expanded function duties specific for each state.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs mouth mirror inspections of the oral cavity
• Gathers diagnostic information
• Performs pulp vitality testing
• Charts existing restoration and conditions
• Selects shades for fixed and removable prostheses
• Places and removes rubber dams and matrix bands
• Places and removes retraction cord
• Places and removes intra-coronal temporary restoration
• Removes temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris
• Fabricates, adjusts and cements temporary crowns
• Removes permanent cement from supragingival surfaces
• Removes sutures
• Places and removes surgical dressings
• Monitors nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesic
• Performs coronal polishing of teeth
• Removes hard accretions from and polishes removal prostheses
• Sets up operatory and or surgery suite for planned dental procedures
• Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging in tradition and/or digital formats
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories.
• Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Monitors patient vital signs and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedures

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized for Highly Qualified Individuals
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary