Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration; Chico (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration in Chico, CA seeks a Dental Assistant to support the dentist in all aspects of direct patient care, with some independence in assigned specialties and clerical duties in VA NCHCS facilities.

The ideal candidate will have a 1-year CODA-accredited dental assisting program or equivalent experience, radiologic certification, and strong English communication. Preferred credentials include DANB and Basic Life Support.

Qualifications

• Requires 1-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program or equivalent experience.
• Applicants must meet radiologic credentialing standards and English proficiency.
• BLS and DANB certifications are desirable but not always required.

Responsibilities

• Assist dentist in restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care.
• Perform dental radiography per credentialing requirements.
• Maintain equipment; enter data in electronic dental records; assist clerical tasks.
• Provide patient education and support to treatment plans.

Skills

Identify oral anatomy

Dental instruments & procedures

Vital signs interpretation

Patient education

Dental imaging

Equipment maintenance

Electronic dental records

Dental lab procedures

Education

CODA-accredited 1-year dental assistant program

Job description

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties and clerical functions, with indirect supervision from the dentist or supervisor. Duties will be performed in the VA NCHCS facilities.

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.
• 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).
• 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 - (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 OR (d) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).
• Physical Requirements - A pre-employment physical is required for the position.
• English Language Proficiency - Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a.
• Preferred Experience: 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.

Grade Determinations:

• GS-6 Staff 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: -
  • 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.
  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. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.
• References: VA Handbook 5005/46, Part II, Appendix G36, Dental Assistant Qualification Standard, dated April 19, 2011. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at