Dental Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Bedford, MA is seeking a full-time Dental Assistant to support Dental Services at the VA Bedford Healthcare System.

The role involves preparing operatory and imaging; assisting dentists in routine and complex procedures; and maintaining infection control and patient privacy as part of a comprehensive dental care team. The ideal candidate will have CODA-accredited training or equivalent, radiography certification, and strong English communication.

Qualifications

• Must have completed CODA-accredited dental assistant program or equivalent education/experience.
• English language proficiency and ability to communicate effectively.
• Candidate may be referred and tentatively selected before all requirements are met.

Responsibilities

• Set up operatory/surgery suite for planned procedures and ensure timely turnover.
• Assist in dental procedures including oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and implants.

Skills

Infection control

Dental procedures knowledge

Radiographic image capture

Patient privacy

Communication skills

Education

CODA-accredited dental assistant program

Radiology credentialing (DANB or state/DoD)

Tools

Electronic dental records

Job description

Summary

This Dental Assistant position is in Dental Services at the VA Bedford Healthcare Systems - located at the Bedford - MA location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

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
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7402(d)
• 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)
• Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and 2 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 - and is required for all positions above the full performance level (GS-06)
• 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-03: Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-04: Experience or Education
• In addition to the basic requirements - 1 year of experience at the next lower level (GS-03) - 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)
• 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-05: 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 - Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA
• In addition the applicant must demonstrate 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-06: Experience
• At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS05) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical 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/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• This position serves as staff dental assistant 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
• Duties include but are not limited to: Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Assists in specialized dental procedures - such as oral surgery - endodontics - periodontics - prosthodontics - implant placement and restoration
• Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e Panorex - cone beam) in digital formats
• Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories
• Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
• Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
• Provides post-operative and any appropriate patient education
• Removes sutures and periodontal surgical dressingPerforms other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Shows courtesy - respect - and a positive attitude for patients - co-workers and the public
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions - and Performs other related duties
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 7:45am-4:15pm
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: F01812/F01813/F01814/F01815 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• Due to a critical staffing shortage - 38 U.S.C.
• 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.