Dental Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

The Dental Assistant at the Wilmington VA Medical Center supports the dentist in routine patient care and clerical tasks. This role requires setup of operatory spaces, instrument handling, and adherence to infection control standards to ensure patient safety and efficient care.

Personnel perform imaging, maintain electronic records, and provide patient education while following regulatory guidelines. Opportunities include radiographic competency and potential advancement within VA dental

Qualifications

• Six months' experience in dental assisting or equivalent.
• CODA-accredited dental assisting program or equivalent education.
• Radiography certification as required.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).
• Knowledge of infection control and patient safety.

Responsibilities

• The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in direct patient care and clerical tasks.
• Sets up operatory and maintains a clean, sterile work area.
• Prepares medicaments and impression materials as directed.
• Assists with imaging and radiographs per safety protocols.
• Maintains electronic dental records and protects patient confidentiality.
• Performs laboratory procedures as skill permits.
• Provides post-procedural education and referrals as needed.

Skills

Infection control

Radiography certification

English proficiency

Patient education

Education

CODA-accredited dental assisting program

Job description

Summary

The Dental Assistant position is located at the Wilmington VA Medical Center located in Wilmington - DE. Dental Assistants will have the ability to perform routine dental-assisting duties. They receive guidance from more experienced staff members or the treating dentist for more complex patient issues and require direct daily contact with the work-site supervisor. At the full performance level Dental Assistants perform clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

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

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• 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 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
• 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)
• 2
• 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
• 3
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• 4
• 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-6 (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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and abilities: In addition to the experience listed above the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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: Prior substantive as Dental Assistant
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 6
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clerical functions independently of direct supervision
• Major Duties include - but are not limited to: Sets up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans the operatory for a timely turnover
• Keeps operative field clear of debris - passes instruments safely - 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
• Utilize imaging safety techniques to minimize retakes
• Assists in all basic restorative procedures - including oral surgery - endodontics - periodontics and prosthodontics with the general dentist
• Prepares for sterilization by the Sterilization Processing Department (SPD) standards
• Assists dentists in charting findings and treatment plans in patients' electronic records
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIP AA regulations with written and verbal information
• Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities
• Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress
• Identifies and reports any possible hazards to the hospital Safety Officer
• Pour impressions and prepare study models
• Makes final custom impression trays
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Provides post-procedural and other appropriate patient education
• Complies with other general requirements for VHA / Facility Health Care Professionals
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:45am to 4:15pm
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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 #: 07036F
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.