Dental Assistant

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; Goldsboro (NC); On-site; USD 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider seeks a skilled Dental Assistant in Goldsboro, NC. The role requires performing intra-oral procedures, assisting with patient care, and ensuring compliance with health protocols. Ideal candidates will have relevant experience or accreditation and demonstrate a strong commitment to patient service and safety.

Benefits

Health Benefits

Paid Time Off

Continuing Education Opportunities

Qualifications

• Six months experience in dental assisting or completion of an accredited program.
• Certification in radiologic safety is desirable.
• Ability to provide effective patient education and assist in clinical procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist in routine dental procedures and patient care.
• Prepare the operatory for procedures and ensure infection control.
• Monitor patient conditions during treatments and provide education.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

Patient Education

Infection Control Procedures

Radiologic Competence

Education

1-year dental assistant program accredited by ADA

Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board

Tools

Dental X-ray Equipment

Dental Software for Patient Records

Job description

Summary

The Dental Assistants will be assigned to Dental Service at the Veterans Administration Health Care System in Goldsboro - NC and will perform a wide range of intra-oral dental procedures and provides chairside assistance in the dental clinic. He/she will perform reversible intra-oral procedures associated with various phases of restorative - prosthodontic and maxillofacial prosthetic - periodontal - endodontic - implantology - and surgery procedures.

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
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• 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
• (1) 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 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 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
• Loss of Credential
• An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame - or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• Grandfather Provisions: All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including certification(for positions above the full performance level) that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Such employees MUST meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.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).IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE - PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC
• WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.Grade Determinations:GS-6 [Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)](a) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] the next lower grade level (GS-05) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.1
• Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality.2
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurements.3
• Basic] knowledge of instruments - materials and standardized dental procedures.4
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA].5
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol].In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:(b)Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities1
• 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]References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 PART II APPENDIX G36Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• Stand for long periods of time - use hands to handle - control - or feel objects - tools - or controls.

Duties

• Dental Assistants is responsible for the following duties but not limited to: Serves as staff dental assistant at the full performance level for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from the lead or supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist
• Performs assigned selected procedures with some independence
• Some complex patient procedures are performed under indirect supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor
• Assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision
• Customer Service: Shows courtesy - respect - and a positive attitude for patients - co-workers and the public Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns - provides service recovery
• Chairside Assisting: Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Passes instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues 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 routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry
• Assists in specialized dental procedures - such as oral surgery - endodontics - periodontics - prosthodontics - implant placement and restoration
• Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standards
• Dental Imaging Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e
• TMJ - ceph - cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats
• Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider
• Images are characterized by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized - and retakes are minimized
• Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories
• Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination
• Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPD for sterilization
• Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images
• Utilizes all proper PPE per national and local policies Follows all hospital infection control protocols including hand hygiene
• Clerical Functions Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Initiates computerized progress note
• Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• Locates/tracks all pending patient lab cases for use during patient appointments
• Properly completes all dental laboratory cards
• Information Management Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
• Follows computer security regulations
• Patient Safety Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position) Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress Direct Patient Care Monitors patient vital signs (BP - pulse - pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure
• Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site Applies topical fluoride
• Makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses
• Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
• Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education
• Completes medication reconciliation and TBI screenings as appropriate
• Employee Education Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions
• Dental Laboratory Functions Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Work Schedule: Compressed
• Monday - Friday
• Week One: 7:00am-4:30pm
• Week Two: 7:00 am-4:30 pm
• M - T - W - F
• Thursday Off Financial Disclosure Report: Not required