Dental Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Redding (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeks a GS-6 level Dental Assistant to support dentists in direct patient care within VA NCHCS facilities in California. The role involves assisting with chairside procedures and performing duties with some independence under indirect supervision.

Applicants must meet citizenship and credentialing standards, with preferred 1 year chairside experience and CODA-accredited education. A pre-employment physical and English proficiency are required.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required; non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Six months dental assisting experience or completion of a 1-year CODA-accredited program.
• Experience/education combinations are qualifying.
• Certification to meet radiologic credentialing standards per 42 CFR Part 75.
• Radiologic health and safety credential options or state DoD/board approvals.
• A pre-employment physical is required.
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Assist dentist in direct patient care with independence in assigned specialties.
• Perform full range of duties including clerical tasks under indirect supervision.
• Work in VA NCHCS facilities as part of the dental team.

Skills

Dental assisting experience

English proficiency

Radiology awareness

Education

1-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program

Radiology certification per 42 CFR Part 75

Tools

Digital radiography

Electronic dental records

Job description

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties and clerical functions, with indirect supervision from the dentist or supervisor. Duties will be performed in the VA NCHCS facilities. 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 and Education - (1) Experience - Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work OR (2) Education - Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation (CODA).
• 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 - (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 OR (d) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).
• Physical Requirements - A pre-employment physical is required for the position.
• English Language Proficiency - Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a.

Preferred Experience

• 1 Year Chairside experience preferred

Grade Determinations

GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)

• Experience - At least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • 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.

References

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06.

Physical Requirements

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/