"Alerted.org

Summary Dental assistants at this level serve as staff dental assistants at the full performance level for more routine patient care and perform some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor. The dental assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Responsibilities Dental Imaging: Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, ceph, 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 operatories. Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination. Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPD for sterilization. Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment. Works closely with SPD to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images. Clerical Functions: Assists patients in scheduling appointments. This includes clerical functions such as receiving and making telephone calls, scheduling appointments from RTC orders, and entering RTC orders when necessary. Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Assist dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records. Information Management: Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follows computer security regulations. Patient Safety: Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position). Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients. Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Employee Education: Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions. Dental Laboratory Functions: Pours impressions and prepares study models. Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims. Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays. Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow. Direct Patient Care: Monitors patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure. Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site, Applies topical fluoride. Makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication. Provides postoperative and other appropriate patient education Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am-4:00 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30003-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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. Dental Assistant Basic Requirement To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: 1. Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States 2. English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 3. Experience and Education - To fulfill this requirement, you must meet one of the following: a. Experience: Six months experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR, b. Education: Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). OR, c. Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. 4. Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. You must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in this regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field. a. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence: i. Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. OR, ii. 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, iii. Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD). b. Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable. c. Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). 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. Grandfathering Provision. All Dental Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (04/19/2011) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: 1. Dental Assistants grandfathered under this provision may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. 2. Dental Assistants who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. 3. Dental Assistants initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. 4. If a Dental Assistant who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, they lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Dental Assistant, GS-03/04/05/06 GS-03 Dental Assistant (Entry Level Developmental) - No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 Dental Assistant - Experience/Education Requirement: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-04 you must possess one of the following: a. One (1) year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-03). b. Two (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). 2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling. b. Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies. c. Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval. d. Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment. e. Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements. GS-05 Dental Assistant - Experience/Education Requirement: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-05 you must meet the requirements listed at the GS-04 above, and you must possess one of the following: a. One (1) year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-04). b. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA. 2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality. b. Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement. c. Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures. d. Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA. e. Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol. GS-06 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05). 2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy. b. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures. c. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs. d. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist. e. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. f. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry. g. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. h. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures. 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: The work is sedentary but involves fine motor movements when assisting. Typically, the employee sits at a desk or table or on adjustable stool in the treatment room with some walking and standing as patients are seated or clean and dirty dental instruments area. Items carried are typically light objects and lifting of moderately heavy objects is not normally required. 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 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. 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.