Dental Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 43,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dental Assistant position is at the Durham VA Medical Center, performing complex work across restorative, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, implantology and oral surgery.

GS-6 level with responsibilities including four-handed dentistry, assisting with specialty procedures, impressions, casts, and custom trays, under indirect supervision by the lead dental assistant or dentist.

Qualifications

• Identifies normal oral anatomy and pathology.
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standard procedures across restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care.
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images with good diagnostic quality.

Responsibilities

• Assist with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontics, prosthodontics and implant placement/restoration.
• Prepare impressions, pours, trims, and evaluates diagnostic casts; fabricate custom trays.
• Provide patient education and refer concerns to the treating dentist as needed.

Skills

Four-handed dentistry

Advanced knowledge of instruments

Patient education

Data entry using electronic dental rec

Education

Radiography Certification

DANB Certification

DA I or DA II

Tools

Digital dental imaging equipment

Gypsum modelling materials

Electronic dental records software

Job description

The Dental Assistant will be assigned at the Durham VA Medical Center. The incumbent will independently perform more complex work in disciplines such as restorative, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, implantology and oral surgery.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States.
• Certification: 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English

Grade Determination:

GS-6 Dental Assistant

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
(b) Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
(c) Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
(d) Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
(e) Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
(f) Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
(g) Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
(h) Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

Preferred Experience:

2 yrs of Experience, Radiography Certified, DA I or DA II

DANB Certification Preferred, but not required.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.