Dental Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Coatesville (Chester County); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs – VA Medical Center, Coatesville, PA is seeking a Dental Assistant for a full-time position (40 hours/week). The role requires U.S. citizenship and either one year of experience or a CODA-accredited dental assistant program, plus radiography credentialing.

Provisions for grandfathering and English proficiency apply. Responsibilities include providing four-handed assistance during procedures, recording vital signs, maintaining operatory equipment, taking

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Six months of relevant experience OR completion of a CODA-accredited dental assistant program.
• Must be certified as a radiographer per 42 CFR Part 75 or meet equivalent credentialing requirements.
• Provisions for Grandfathering radiologic competence if applicable.
• English language proficiency (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Assist during dental procedures using four-handed dentistry techniques.
• Measure and record vital signs; provide pre- and post-operative instructions.
• Maintain operation of the dental operatory and support equipment.
• Take and process dental radiographs; ensure image quality.
• Enter and retrieve patient data in electronic dental records.

Skills

Vital signs

Intraoral procedures

Patient education

Dental charting

Education

CODA-accredited Dental Assistant Program

Tools

Radiographic equipment

Job description

The Dental Assistant position is located in the Dental Service Line at the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Medical Center, Coatesville, Pennsylvania. 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
• 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).

English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level)-

Experience. At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Examples of experience includes: measures and records vital signs; provides pre- and post-operative instructions; maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls; using the concepts of four-handed dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures; mixes basic dental materials.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs

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.

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/.

Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods of time, use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.