Dental Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' New Mexico VA Health Care System Dental Service is seeking a Staff Dental Assistant. You will assist with dental procedures and radiographic imaging under supervision, ensuring accurate completion of tasks while following safety standards.

Candidates must meet basic requirements including U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and CODA-accredited training or equivalent experience.

Qualifications

• Six months experience in dental assisting or related work.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).
• United States citizenship or eligibility under grandfathering provisions.
• Certification or eligibility for radiologic competence per Regulations.

Responsibilities

• Assist with dental procedures and processes.
• Receive guidance on complex patient cases.
• Work under supervision to ensure tasks are completed accurately.

Skills

Oral anatomy

Dental instruments

Vital signs interpretation

Patient education

Radiographic imaging

Dental equipment maintenance

Electronic dental records

Education

One-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program

Job description

The incumbent will serve within the New Mexico VA Health Care System Dental Service. Duties include assisting with dental procedures and processes, receiving guidance on complex patient cases, and working under appropriate supervision to ensure tasks are completed accurately.

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 USC 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.
• 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 GS-06, and is required for all positions above the full performance level.

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).

Grade Determinations

GS-06 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement:

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05).
2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   • 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/

Physical Requirements

Long periods of standing, walking, sitting, and bending are required. Pushing dental equipment and carts are necessary to deliver items to the operatory or procedure site. It is necessary to climb onto lifts to retrieve or store supplies, or to help the dentist carry out a surgical or dental procedure. Lifting of patients from gurneys or wheelchairs into the dental chair is required to position them for radiographs or dental examination and treatment.