Staff Dental Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Lebanon (Lebanon County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health institution seeks a Staff Dental Assistant for its Dental Department. The role involves enhancing patient care in various dental procedures, including restorative dentistry and oral surgery, while providing support and education to patients. Candidates must have relevant experience or education, demonstrating proficiency in dental practices and patient interaction.

Qualifications

• Proficient in spoken and written English.
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and instruments.
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate patient care in restorative and surgical dentistry.
• Provide emotional support for patients.
• Act as a liaison between the dental clinic and sterilization program.

Skills

Knowledge of anatomy

Basic communication skills

Ability to monitor vital signs

Ability to perform laboratory procedures

Ability to capture dental images

Education

Completion of a 1-year dental program accredited by CODA

Six months of relevant experience

Job description

The position is located in the Dental Department of the Surgery Care Line at the Lebanon VA Medical Center. The assistant enhances the dentist's capabilities by facilitating patient care in the areas of restorative dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, radiology, and oral surgery. The assistant also provides emotional support for the patient, assumes delegated responsibilities from the dentist, and acts as a liaison between Dental Clinic and the medical center sterilization program.
Duties

Duties of the Staff Dental Assistant include but are not limited to the following:

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: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Experience and Education: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work; OR successful completion of a 1-year dental program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); OR Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying.
• Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CRF 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. This can include any of the following:
  • Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assistant 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.

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).

Grade Determinations:
GS-06 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level): At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the GS-5 level are:

• Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality.
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement.
• Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures.
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA.
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs at the GS-6 level:

Demonstrated 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

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-06.

Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements: moderate lifting and carrying; straight pulling and pushing; use of fingers, both hands required; walking and standing; repeated bending; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near and far vision (correctable), both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability . ENVIORONMENTAL FACTORS: Excessive noise (intermittent); dust, fumes, smoke or gases; radiant energy; working around machinery with moving parts; working closely with others.