Dental Assistant

The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System, Dental Service, is currently recruiting two (2) Dental Assistants for the Lawton VA Clinic.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 31, 2024 or until all positions are filled.

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.

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.
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • 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. 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Dental Assistant, GS-3

• Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Dental Assistant, GS-4

• Experience or Education. 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 [Dental] Accreditation (CODA).

-AND-

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• 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.

Dental Assistant, GS-5

• Experience or Education. In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level, OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.

-AND-

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic quality.
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement.
• Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA.
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.

Staff Dental Assistant, GS-6 (Full Performance Level)

• Experience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

-AND-

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
• 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: Light carrying under 15 pounds, Reaching above shoulder, Both hands required, Walking/standing 8-10 hours, Repeated bending, Both legs required, Specific visual requirements (small details), The ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Both eyes required, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish colors, Hear.

Responsibilities:

• Prepares operatories receives, seats, and drapes patients for treatment in the dental clinic.
• Obtain and record the vital signs of the patient.
• Obtains and records information related to the medical and dental history of the patient.
• Records treatment and examination information on patient records.
• Assists general dentists, periodontists, endodontists, prosthodontists, and Oral surgeons with different procedures including sedation if needed.
• Provides chairside assistance at least 25% of time spent in specialized dentistry as required, anticipating the dentist's need for various instruments, materials, and services.
• Prepares consent forms for surgery and anesthesia.
• Prepares prescriptions for the signature of the dentist.
• Routes patients for medical tests and services when required.
• Packages tissue specimens and routes to the pathology laboratory.
• Responds to basic medical emergencies. Maintains a current CPR certification.
• The dental assistant maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards.
• The dental assistant performs daily preventive maintenance of dental instruments, equipment, and accessories to ensure proper functioning, increase longevity, and proper delivery of dental care.
• The dental assistant is to be a team builder. Demonstrate patience and tact in dealing with patients and co-workers to maintain effective working relations.
• The dental assistant will treat patients and co-workers respectfully to maintain a professional working environment.
• The dental assistant schedules outpatient clinic appointments using Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) scheduling options, and uses established business rules to schedule appointments for Veterans, this includes clinic visits, consultations, and entries into the Electronic Wait List (EWL), Complies with the mandatory framing requirements for the outpatient scheduling process.
• Request specific supplies when needed. Maintain a sufficient inventory of supplies and accessories to ensure proper operation of the dental clinic. Rocky Mountain Network Human Resources Title 38/Hybrid Title 38 Functional Statement
• Operates dental X-ray equipment to expose intra- and extra-oral radiographs. Exposes and processes dental radiographs and saves digital imaging to electronic medical records; evaluates radiographs' diagnostic quality
• The dental assistant will be familiar with and follow hospital infection control policies.
• The dental assistant is to be knowledgeable of infection control protocols for dental instruments, equipment, and accessories to ensure a safe work environment, minimize cross-contamination, and provide a high level of infection control.
• Relays to patient instructions from the dentist for all types of post-treatment care including specialized instructions for post-surgery patients. Provides oral hygiene instruction in the common causes of decay, brushing and flossing techniques, and care of orthodontic appliances.
• Takes preliminary impressions; pours and trims models from impressions; constructs baseplates and bite rims fabricates custom trays, assists in preparation of laboratory prescriptions forms; applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses. Evaluate the quality of the diagnostic cast. Selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes.
• Decontaminates non-critical medical supplies and equipment used in any setting where patient care is provided (excluding equipment and supplies that require specialized cleaning procedures per the manufacturer). Determines and uses the appropriate methods for removing gross contamination and providing effective cleaning between patient use of non-critical reusable medical equipment and supplies based on the direction provided in the Reusable Medical Equipment Medical Center Memorandum.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 635-53407-A, 635-53408-A, 635-53409-A, 635-53410-A

Salary : $35,499