• Job Description

  Req#: 730162400
  The Dental Assistant serves as a supporting member of the dental care team performing a full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant or treating dentist. They will comply with guidelines and policies set forth by the Dental Service, the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, VHA policy, and VA statutes and policy.
  
  Duties
  
  
  The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  
  
  Qualifications
  
  
  Basic Requirements:
  • Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
  • Experience and Education. Applicant must have six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR Have a successfully completed a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). OR Have 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. Applicants must have one of the following:
    • 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).
  
  GS-6 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
  2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
  3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
  4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
  5. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
  6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
  7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
  8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.
  Assignment. This is the full performance level for a Dental Assistant. Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.
  
  References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G36 - Dental Assistant Qualification Standard.
  
  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.
  
  Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing, walking, sitting, and bending are required. Pushing dental equipment and carts are necessary to deliver items to the operatory or procedure site

• 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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