Dental Assistant

The American Dental Hygienists' Association; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a qualified Dental Assistant for the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC. The role includes assisting in direct patient care, handling clerical duties, and ensuring infection control standards. Ideal candidates will have relevant experience or completed an accredited dental assistant program, with additional certifications preferred.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience in dental assisting or completion of accredited program.
• Proficiency in English and ability to communicate effectively.
• Certification in basic life support is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist dentist with patient care and preparations for procedures.
• Manage sterilization of instruments and maintain infection control protocols.
• Perform clerical tasks including appointment scheduling and patient record management.

Skills

Customer Service

Infection Control

Dental Imaging

Education

1-year dental assistant program accredited by ADA

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the Dept. of Veterans Affairs - at the Charles George VA Medical Center - in Asheville - NC under the Dental Service. The Dental Assistant assists the Dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - 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 [(CODA)]
• (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
• 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
• (1) 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 (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
• Grade Determinations: GS-06 Dental Assistant (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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 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 Assignment: Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties - with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant - dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist
• 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)
• 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. Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing - walking - sitting - and bending
• Short periods of pushing
• Coordinated use of both hands
• Heavy lifting - (45lbs or over)
• Moderate lifting - (15-44 lbs.)
• Light lifting - (15 lbs
• and under.) Light carrying - (15 lbs
• and under.) Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingerprints
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• Hearing aid permitted
• Mental acuity to facilitate and coordinate with all requirements previously detailed.

Duties

• Duties to include - but not limited to: Customer Service: Shows courtesy - respect - and a positive attitude for patients - co-workers and the public
• Assists customers with questions or concerns - provides service recovery
• Chair-side 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
• Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry
• Assists in specialized dental procedures - such as oral surgery - endodontics - periodontics - prosthodontics - implant placement and restoration
• Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standards
• Dental Imaging: Exposes both standard and specialty and Panoramic imaging in digital formats
• Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider
• 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
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization: Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
• Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS 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 per hospital guidelines
• Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Initiates computerized progress note in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Dental Record Manager Plus (DRM Plus)
• Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• Answers Clinic Message Relay Queue (CMRQ) messages
• Contacts patient per message request - and records information of contact in CPRS
• Answers Secure Messages and schedules accordingly
• 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 Joint Commission requirements
• Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress
• Monitors patient (BP - pulse EKG - pulse oximeter) - and condition during moderate sedation and during recovery period following procedure
• Employee Education: Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions
• 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: Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Remove temporary crown/bridge provisional and clean tooth preparation of debris
• Cements temporary crown/bridge provisionals
• Place rubber dams and matrix bands
• Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education
• Performs other duties - as assigned
• Work Schedule: Week 1: Tuesday-Friday 7:00AM-5:30PM - Week 2: Mon-Thurs 7:00AM-5:30PM Compressed/Flexible: Compressed