Dental Assistant

Summary

The dental assistant position is based at the Greenville - SC outpatient clinic where the incumbent is expected to plan and complete tasks based on established protocols/accepted dental practices. The employee will be required to display a cooperative attitude and will effectively work together to implement the organization's mission and goals.

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 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
• (1) 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)
• (2) 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
• (3) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• (4) 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 – and is required for all positions above the full performance level
• GS‑3 (a) Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment
• Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions
• It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues – and require daily close supervision GS‑4 Demonstrated Knowledge ‑ Skills ‑ and Abilities 1
• Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling
• 2
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and [medical emergencies
• 3
• Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval
• 4
• Basic knowledge of maintenance ‑ care and storage of dental equipment
• 5
• Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements
• Assignment
• Employees at this level serve as [developmental] staff dental assistants
• It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily and direct contact at the site of work from the assigned supervisor
• [Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: receiving and preparing patient for treatment including seating ‑ positioning chair ‑ placing napkin ‑ performing disinfection and sterilization procedures
• perfo…