• Job Description

  Req#: 799240400
  Serves as staff dental assistant at the full performance level for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from the lead or supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist. Performs assigned selected procedures with some independence. Some complex patient procedures are performed under indirect supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.
  
  
  
  Duties
  
  
  Major duties include, but not limited to:
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  
  
  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.
  • English Language Proficiency: must be proficient in spoken and written English.
  • Education and/or Experience:
    • 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).
    • 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:GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant
  • Experience. At least 1 year of experience at 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: DENTAL RADIOLOGY certificate - NOT REQUIRED can be completed the first week of on-boarding. Two years of experience preferred.
  
  References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46, PART II, APPENDIX G36
  
  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.
  
  Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

• About the company

  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with integrating life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 1700 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.

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