Dental Assistant

Overview

This position is located in the Dental Service at the Salem VA Medical Center (VAMC). Performs the duties of a dental assistant in a hospital based dental clinic. At this level serves as a staff assistant - assisting the provider and utilizing techniques of four-handed dentistry. A $5,000 recruitment incentive may be authorized. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series.

For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 04/28/2022.

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:
  
  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) - OR
  - 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
• 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: (a) 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 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
• Grade Determination: GS-03:
  
  Experience:
  
  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-04:
  
  Experience:
  
  In addition to the basic requirements - 1 year of experience at the next lower level - OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association s Commission on CODA
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval Basic knowledge of maintenance - care
  -and storage of dental equipment
• 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
• performing basic chair side assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist
• reporting medical emergencies to dentist
• preparing procedural trays/armamentaria set-ups
• exposing and processing basic dental radiographs with direct supervision
• mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or…