This Dental Assistant position is located in the Dental Service at the Bedford, MA location. This position is a Full-Time position at 40 hours per week. 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. English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English. Experience and Education - one of the following: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence - one of the following: Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. 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. Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD). Note: 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. Grade Determination GS-6 (Full Performance Level) GS-5 Demonstrated 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. GS-6 Dental Assistant Grade Determination (Full Performance Level). A. Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. B. Demonstrated 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46. PART II APPENDIX G36 Dated April 19, 2011 Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods of time, use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls. ["Serves as staff dental assistant at the full performance level for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist. Performs assigned selected procedures with independence. Some complex patient procedures may be performed under indirect supervision of more experienced dental assistants or supervisory dental assistant. Assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Duties include but are not limited to: Customer Service 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 Chairside Assisting Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite 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 and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols. Dental Imaging Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimize Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Ensures that all elements of infection control meet the standards for outside review groups, medical center standards and Dental Service standards Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Clerical Functions Assists patients in scheduling appointments Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Charts findings, treatment plans and treatment provided in patients' electronic records Information Management Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations Patient Safety Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position) Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress Monitors patient's blood pressure during recovery period following procedure Employee Education Complies with Employee Education requirements Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Education Liaison for the Dental Service Dental Laboratory Functions Pours impressions and prepares study models Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow Direct Patient Care Removes sutures and periodontal surgical dressing Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication Removes temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris Recement and fabricate temporary crowns Coronal polishing of teeth Place rubber dams and matrix bands Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Work Schedule: Monday-Friday. Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Dental Assistant/PD000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Notifications Positions are National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Bargaining Unit positions. Position covered by locality-based comparability pay. This position is in the Excepted Service."]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
