Dental Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Martinsburg (WV); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a staff dental assistant at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center. The role involves routine patient care, assisting in dental procedures, and requires certification in radiologic competence, with opportunities for certification and advancement.

Qualifications

• Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Six months experience or completion of accredited dental assistant program required.
• Certification in basic life support methods is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine patient care and dental procedures.
• Assist in complex procedures under supervision.
• Maintain dental records and equipment.

Skills

Ability to identify normal oral anatomy

Advanced knowledge of dental procedures

Ability to monitor vital signs

Patient education skills

Ability to capture dental images

Maintenance on dental equipment

Data entry and retrieval skills

Laboratory procedures

Education

Completion of a 1-year dental assistant program

Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)

Job description

This position is located at the Martinsburg WV VA Medical Center, This position serves as a 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.

Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to:

Requirements

Qualifications
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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Experience and Education:
  • 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).

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.

Grade Determinations: GS-0681-6.

GS-0681-6

Experience: To qualify at the GS-6 grade level you must meet the following;

• At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's:

• 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:

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.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G36.

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

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs); Light carrying (under 15 lbs); Use of fingers on both hands required; Walking (6 hrs), Standing (6 hrs); Both legs required (1 prosthetic), Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).