This position is located at the Martinsburg WV VA Medical Center, This position serves as a staff dental assistant up to the full performance level for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from the lead or supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist. Performs assigned selected procedures with some independence. Some complex patient procedures are performed under indirect supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.
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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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). 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. 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. 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). 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. Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance 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. Employees 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. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-0681-3/4/5/6. GS-0681-3: Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements GS-0681-4: 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)]. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - 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. GS-0681-5: Experience or Education: To qualify at the GS-5 grade level you must meet the following; 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 GS-4 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. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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. GS-0681-6 Experience: To qualify at the GS-6 grade level you must meet the following; At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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. Preferred Experience: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G36. 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 lifting (under 15 lbs); Light carrying (under 15 lbs); Use of fingers on both hands required; Walking (6 hrs), Standing (6 hrs); Both legs required (1 prosthetic), Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).
Duties may include but are not limited to: Assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration. Anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment. Makes preliminary impressions. Selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes. Pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts. Fabricates custom trays. Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit, dental equipment and countertops 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 VA mandatory infection control protocols. Assists in routine general procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry. Assists in specialized dental procedures such as, but not limited to, oral surgery, prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and implant surgery and restoration. Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions [Instructions for Use (IFU) and dental service standards]. Takes dental images using accurate orientation and proper exposure. Proficiently exposes standard and specialty intraoral and extraoral images [periapical, bitewing, occlusal, panoramic, TMJ, sinus, cephalometric, 3D cone beam, etc.] in traditional and/or digital formats as requested by the doctor. Performs imaging requests within an acceptable time frame so as not to delay direct patient clinical care. Initiates computerized progress notes. Communicates with patients family and treatment team in coordination of care. Other tasks/duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time. Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 24116-F. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.