Dental Assistant Job at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in Ashe

Summary This position is located within the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, at the Charles George VA Medical Center, in Asheville, NC under the Dental Service. The Dental Assistant, performs a higher level, scope, complexity and variety of dental assisting duties representing the clinical assignment and applies advanced clinical skills. Performs the full range of duties for routine patient care, with indirect supervision from the Supervisory Dental Assistant, or the treating dentist. Responsibilities Duties to include, but not limited to: Major Duties and Responsibilities: Performs a higher level, scope, complexity and variety of dental assisting duties representing the clinical assignment and applies advanced clinical skills. 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. Serves in expanded function dental assistant positions independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties. Must maintain current Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification, Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). DANB provides a list of permissible clinical expanded function duties specific for each state. DANB's CDA exam and RHS certificate of knowledge-based competency meet the Department of Veterans Affairs requirement for expanded duties dental assistant designation. Assists the general dentist and dental specialist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Functions: Expanded function duties: Duties listed in this section (a) comprise at least 25% of the clinical expanded function dental assistant's time Performs mouth mirror inspection 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 prostheses and clean tooth preparation of debris. Fabricates, adjusts and cements temporary crowns/bridges, including complex, multi-unit provisional Removes permanent cement from supra-gingival surfaces. Removes sutures. Performs coronal polishing of teeth. Removes hard accretions from and adjusts, polishes removable prostheses. Demonstrates oral hygiene procedures. Places and removes matrices for restorations. Irrigate extraction sites. Customer Service: Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public. Assists customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery. Chairside Assisting: Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite 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 using concepts of four-handed dentistry. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration. Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standards. Dental Imaging: 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. Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Imaging requests are accomplished within the 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 (RME). Works closely with SPs to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images. Other Areas of Duties: Clerical Functions, Information Management, Patient Safety, Employee Education, Dental Laboratory Functions, and Direct Patient Care. Performs other duties, as assigned. Work Schedule: 4, 10 hour days per week (Week 1: Monday-Thursday 7:00AM-5:30PM, Week 2: Tuesday-Friday 7:00AM-5:30PM) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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 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. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English 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). Experience and Education: Experience: 1 year at the GS-06 Level, 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).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. Grade Determination GS-7: Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant: At this level, dental assistants serve either as a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Lead Dental Assistant. For all positions above the full performance level, duties must be assigned to the position at least 25% of the time. Experience: At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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). Assignment: In this position, the employee performs a higher level, scope, complexity and variety representing the clinical assignment, and applies advanced clinical skills. Representative duties at this level include, but are not limited to: gathering diagnostic information, pulp vitality testing, charting of existing conditions, placing of rubber dam and matrices, selecting shades, placing retraction cord, placing and removing temporary restorations, fabricating temporary crowns and removing permanent cement from supra gingival surfaces. In addition, the expanded function assistant may place and remove surgical dressing, monitor nitrous oxide analgesia, and perform coronal polishing and the cleaning and polishing of removable prostheses. Preferred Experience: Applicant must hold Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) Certification. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing, walking, sitting, and bending. Short periods of pushing. Coordinated use of both hands. Heavy lifting, (45lbs or over); Moderate lifting, (15-44 lbs.); Light lifting, (15 lbs. and under.) Light carrying, (15 lbs. and under.) Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingerprints. Near vision correctable at 13" to 16". Hearing aid permitted. Mental acuity to facilitate and coordinate with all requirements previously detailed. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.