What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dental Assistant position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
This Dental Assistant position is located at the Iowa City VA Medical Center. The incumbent assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.
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
This Dental Assistant position is located at the Iowa City VA Medical Center. The incumbent assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.
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
- 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 (1) Experience
- 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)
- (3) 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: (a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board - Inc.
- OR - (b) 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 - (c) 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 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
- 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: 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)
- In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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 at 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
- In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) 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 (Full Performance Level) Experience
- At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
- 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 Preferred Experience: Completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program (new graduates encouraged to apply)
- Experience assisting in general dentistry procedures such as restorative care - prosthodontics - oral surgery - or periodontal procedures (clinical rotations acceptable)
- Familiarity with infection control protocols and sterilization procedures
- Experience working with digital radiography and electronic dental records (from coursework or clinical training)
- Strong communication and patient-care skills demonstrated in clinical or educational settings
- CPR/BLS certification (or willingness to obtain before onboarding)
- Successful completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program (this ensures certification upon entry)
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- 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: 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.
- Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include - but are not limited to: Customer Service Sets up operatory 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 Assists in specialized dental procedures - such as oral surgery - endodontics - and periodontics Images are characterized by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized - and retakes are minimized Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS standards Assists patients in scheduling appointments Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records Initiates computerized progress note Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress Complies with Employee Education requirements Pours impressions and prepares study models Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims Remove sutures Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris Recement and fabricate temporary crowns Coronal polishing of teeth Place rubber dams and matrix bands Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increase
- 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) consists of a comprehensive Tertiary Care Level I VA Health Care System
- eleven VA Clinics and two Homeless Veterans Outreach Centers and has an affiliate agreement with the top ranked University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
- ICVAHCS is home to the Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) - one of the largest research departments in the VA
- CADRE is an energetic and upbeat organization with 18 core investigators - 29 affiliate or associate investigators - 3 Career Development Awardees - 5 VA Quality Scholars - over 50 research personnel - and over 40 funded projects
- https://www.va.gov/iowa-city-health-care/about-us/
Salary : $38,736 - $70,498