Dental Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Federal pension

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom VA Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO seeks a Dental Assistant to support dentists in direct patient care and perform clinical and clerical tasks.

Applicants must meet CODA accreditation and radiology credentialing requirements. This full-time Federal position offers comprehensive benefits and a Monday–Friday schedule. Responsibilities include preparing operatory, assisting in diverse dental procedures, maintaining infection control,

Qualifications

• This role requires knowledge of dental procedures and patient care.
• Compliance with radiology credentialing standards is mandatory.
• Certification in radiologic procedures or related coursework is required or preferred.

Responsibilities

• Show courtesy and professionalism to patients and staff.
• Set up operatory and prepare dental units for procedures.
• Support dentists in restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care.
• Pass instruments safely and maintain a clean operative field.
• Provide patient education on oral hygiene and preventive care.

Skills

Dental assistant experience

Identify normal oral anatomy

Instrument knowledge

Patient education

Education

CODA-accredited dental assisting program

Job description

Summary

This Dental Assistant position is located at the PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Colorado Springs - CO. Dental assistants assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and perform 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

• | GS-6 Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates
• Experience and Education
• Experience
• Six (6) months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work - or provides familiarity with the work
• - OR - Education
• Successful completion of a one (1) year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• Certification (required)
• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75
• 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)
• Note: 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
• Additional Certifications (not required but highly desirable)
• Certification in basic life support methods
• 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 up to the GS-6 (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-6 Experience
• At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• - AND- Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA)
• 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] Preferred Experience: One (1) year experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying - use of both hands - fingers - reaching above shoulders - walking - standing - sitting - depth perception - rapid mental and muscular coordination.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Shows courtesy - respect - and positive attitude for patients - co-workers and the public
• Assists customers with questions or concerns - provides service recovery
• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Possesses advanced knowledge of instruments - materials - and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative - surgical - endodontic and periodontal care
• Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry
• Passes instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissue 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 specialized dental procedures - such as oral surgery - endodontics - periodontics - prosthodontics - implant placement and restoration
• Monitors - and performs basic interpretation of - patient vital signs (BP - pulse - pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure
• Responds to basic medical emergencies
• Remove sutures
• Remove temporary crown or bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris
• Recement and fabricate temporary crowns
• Coronal polishing of teeth
• Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Provides procedure-specific - patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
• Possess ability to identify normal anatomy
• Pours impressions and prepares study models as needed
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
• Work Schedule: Full-time | Monday to Friday
• Compressed/Flexible Hours: Available
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• 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)
• 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 Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 554-54840A - 554-54841A - 554-54842A - 554-54843A
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.