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. Dental Assistant assists the dentist in aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part. Experience and Education (1) Experience Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR, (2) Education Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. (3) 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. 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, (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. The American Dental Association 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. (5) Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. d. Grandfathering Provision All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification for positions above the full performance level 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) 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. (2) 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. (3) Employees 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 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. e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. APRIL 19, 2011 VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 PART II APPENDIX G36 II-G36-3 f. 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. GS-3 Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. 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 In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. 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, (2) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by [CODA. (3) In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) above, the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic quality. 2. Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement. 3. Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures. 4. Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA. 5. Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol. GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant Full Performance LevelExperience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy. 2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures. 3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs. 4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist. 5.Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. 6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry. 7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. 8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures
Duties include but not limited to - Shows courtesy. respect. and a positive attitude for patients. co-workers and the public - Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery - Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit 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 to include desensitizing agents, tissue conditioners and other topical agents prescribed by Dentist and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions - Pours and trims dental models, preserving anatomical landmarks - Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols - Assists in routine general dental procedures - Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery. endodontics, and periodontics in the Dental Clinic and in the Operating Room - Advanced Knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures used in the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery - Prepares the operating room for scheduled dental or maxillofacial procedure - Correctly maintains sterile field, maintaining correct needle and sponge count and properly labeling all medications on the sterile field - Knowledge of reusable medical equipment (RME) being used for dental procedures - Knowledge of common dental disorders and conditions - Secures digital and other clinical imaging tests, as ordered by Dentist, - 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 - Demonstrates proper infection control in exposing images - Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories - Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards - Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images - Assists patients in scheduling appointments - Ensures appointment times are for various dental procedures is appropriate - Ensures patients are scheduled in a timely manner for delivery of crowns, bridges and dental appliances - Ensures all Veterans with emergency or urgent dental needs are scheduled for care in a timely manner - Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointment. - Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records - Maintains dental patient files and charts as well as takes telephone messages - Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA regarding written and verbal information - Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities - Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients - Participates in VA patient identification and 'time out' as specified in JCAHO requirements - Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress - Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist. - Pours impressions and prepares study models - Uses time wisely while multitasking - Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow - Maintains and cleans dental lab. - Remove sutures and applies pressure gauze bandage - Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication - Removes temporary crowns/bridges and cleans tooth preparation of debris - Fabricates temporary crowns - Provides coronal polishing of teeth - Place rubber dams and matrix bands - Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education - Updates medical history using patient questionnaire - Performs oral prophylaxis (supra gingival cleanings) and applies topical fluoride treatments - Obtains signed consents from patients prior to any surgical procedure/s - Observes patient for adverse reactions, i.e., syncope, shock etc. during and after dental procedures - Packages tissue and blood samples and routes them to pathology - Reports accidents per CA I & 2 requirements, via ASSIST incident reporting system - Knowledgeable of safe working practices per occupational safety and health (OSHA) requirements, including MSDS - Knowledgeable of fire and emergency preparedness policies - Maintain all procedures related to radiology safety Employee Education - Complies with employee education requirements (i.e., yearly mandatories) - Complies with yearly radiation training requirement Work Schedule:8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: FS-40230-A