Lead Dental Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lead Dental Assistant position at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs supports the clinic supervisor in assigning work and ensuring efficient patient flow. You will train staff and students, manage radiographic quality, and coordinate dental program activities to improve outcomes.

A strong emphasis on infection control and equipment maintenance per standards is required. Required qualifications include CODA-accredited education, DANB certification, and radiology health and safety

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required; non-citizens to be appointed per VA policy
• Six months experience or completion of a 1-year CODA-accredited program
• Successful completion of approved radiology health and safety program and DANB certification
• DANB certification is required for positions above the journey level
• English proficiency required for clinical communication and documentation

Responsibilities

• Lead duties: monitor clinical workflow, assign tasks, coach staff
• Coordinate dental program development, outcomes management, and strategic planning
• Act as liaison between dental staff and supervisor; provide guidance on radiographs
• Maintain infection control standards and care of dental equipment
• Prepare operatory, manage patient care flow, and update patient records

Skills

Knowledge of dental assisting

Guidance and training

Clinical workflow coordination

Team communication

Infection control procedures

Education

CODA-accredited dental assistant program

DANB certification

Tools

Radiology equipment operation

CPRS / EMR Dental imaging software

Job description

Summary

The Lead Dental Assistant works with the clinic supervisor or Chief - Dental Service to provide input on work assignments and clinical coverage - provide input on performance - maintain efficient flow of patient care - provide training to staff dental assistants - and students and/or trainees.

Qualifications

• 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: 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)
• 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 required for all positions above the full performance level
• Grandfathering Provision
• 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: 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
• 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
• 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
• If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Physical Requirements
• A pre-employment physical is required
• Physical requirements include the ability to lift and carry 15 pounds or less
• Reach above shoulder
• Use both hands and use of fingers
• Use both legs
• Walk - stand - kneel and bend up to 8 hours a day
• Rapid and simultaneous mental and muscular response
• see with both eyes - with or without correctable vision
• to distinguish shades of colors
• to hear with or without a hearing aid
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• Preferred Experience: 1 year chairside experience preferred
• GRADE DETERMINIATIONS GS-7 Lead Dental Assistant Experience
• At least 1 year of experience at 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: Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice - and demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants
• Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments
• Ability to assist in dental program development - outcome management - and strategic planning
• Skill in acting as liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor
• Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants
• Assignment
• The Lead Dental Assistant works with the supervisor or Chief Dental Service to monitor and make work assignments - provide input on performance - resolve daily workplace issues - and maintain efficient flow of patient care
• may approve brief periods of leave - provide training to staff dental assistants - students and/or trainees
• may recommend special advancements and promotions - disciplinary actions - etc
• Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: provides instruction to other assistants in achieving diagnostic quality radiographs - provides instruction in maintenance of all dental service equipment - provides primary support to the chief for the daily delivery of department programs - reporting - staffing and scheduling - coordinates the patients' care plans to reduce redundancies and delay in patient treatment
• Lead Dental Assistants generally would be found in Complexity Level 1 (High Complexity) or Complexity Level 2 (Medium Complexity) facilities - or in facilities of lesser complexity levels where large dental services are found
• Individuals may perform ancillary assignments - including program management duties on an occasional basis
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46 PART II APPENDIX G36 - APRIL 19 - 2011 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7.

Duties

• The Lead Dental Assistant works collaboratively with team members and employees to ensure that tasks are completed
• The Lead ensures a good working relationship among team members and management - and that team priorities and goals - needs - and achievements are coordinated with management
• Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Lead Duties: Provides input on clinical workflow/assignments and provides guidance using advanced knowledge of dental-assisting principles across multiple areas of practice
• Provides input in dental-program development - outcome management - and strategic planning
• Acts as liaison between dental-assisting staff and supervisor
• Provides guidance to other assistants in achieving quality radiographs
• Instructs in maintenance of all dental service equipment
• Performs room inspections and provides feedback to dental assistants regarding compliance with infection control guidelines
• Provides primary support to the Supervisory Dentist for the daily delivery of department programs to include Environment of Care - Infection Control - Reusable Medical Equipment - Community Care - Consult Management - Specialty Referral coordination - Pharmacy Communication - Digital Dentistry - Clinic Utilization and Inventory Management
• Provides daily staffing reports - and updates morning huddle board and electronic huddle sheet
• Coordinates patients' care plans to reduce redundancies and delay in patient treatment - coordinating community care referrals for specialty and general dental care - and will act as liaison between Veteran Affairs Dental clinic and community provider to relay any information and ensure optimal patient experience.
• Patient Care Duties: Complies with patient identification requirements - the Medication Reconciliation Process - the Time-Out process - the IMED consent process - infection control protocols in all aspects of the care process and follows standard operating procedures for all reusable medical equipment (RME) in use in the dental clinical area
• Communicates with patients regarding treatment timeliness - scheduling and rescheduling appointments
• Charts findings and treatment plans in Dental Record Manager
• Completes electronic return to clinic orders using the Computerized Patient Record System
• Captures and saves quality intra and extra-oral digital images
• Observes the patient throughout treatment for signs of fainting - shock - or distress
• Prepares the operatory with all needed equipment - materials - and supplies for planned dental procedures
• Works with Prosthetics for ordering - storing - and tracking of Dental Implant parts and biologics
• Obtains and records the patient's vital signs in the electronic medical record
• Anticipates the dentist's need at each stage of the treatment procedure
• Employs proper techniques and dexterity in the practice of four-handed dentistry
• Keeps the operative field clear of debris and improves access by effectively retracting the tongue and/or oral tissues
• Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures in compliance with standard infection control protocols
• Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions used to fabricate custom trays
• Provides patient post-operative education
• Instructs patients in preventive dental care practices - care of prosthodontic appliances and other oral healthcare education
• Performs routine maintenance of equipment components
• Assists with digital design and milling of 3D printed restorations and dental appliances
• Dental Laboratroy Functions: Pours and trims dental related stone models and fabricates bite rims
• Constructs custom impression trays
• Fabricates vacuum-formed stints - soft mouth guards - retainers - and fluoride trays
• Utilizes firing oven to complete fabrication of milled dental restorations
• Dental Imaging: Ensure images are characterized by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed
• Ensures that dental imaging safety techniques are utilized - retakes are minimized - imaging requests are prompt and labeled
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization: Sets up Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) for all equipment and ensures instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS standards
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory
• Disinfects oral appliances
• Ensures instruments are properly prepared for sterilization per Sterile Processing Service standards
• Additional Duties: Performs administrative duties - to include printing reports - addressing pending issues - scheduling patient appointments and updating patient demographic data
• Ensures that employee educational requirements and safety training is completed
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible Tours: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required