Supervisory Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration; Conroe (TX); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration seeks a Supervisory Dental Assistant to oversee dental assistants and direct the dental assisting activities for an outpatient clinic. The role includes planning, supervising, and ensuring quality control with a team of three or more assistants.

Applicants may be referred pending education/certification completion; radiology credentialing is required by standards, with temporary options described. This is a GS-08 supervisory position within VA dentistry services.

Qualifications

• Six months experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or familiarity with it.
• Successful completion of a 1 year Dental Assistant program accredited by CODA.
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

Responsibilities

• Supervise dental assistants and direct dental assisting activities.
• Provide administrative management and direction for the service or unit.
• Plan and direct dental assisting activities for the outpatient clinic site.
• Oversee a section with three or more dental assistants.
• Mentor and train staff; ensure supervision and compliance with standards.

Skills

Advanced dental assisting

Staff supervision

Clinical workflow coordination

Policy development

Performance management

Training and mentoring

Education

CODA-accredited dental assistant program (1 year)

Job description

The Supervisory Dental Assistant is responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of dental assistants. The position may be delegated full administrative and professional responsibility for planning and directing the dental assisting activities for the service or equivalent unit at an independent outpatient clinic. The position has full supervisory responsibility over a section of equivalent work unit which requires three or more dental assistants.

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

1. a. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
2. b. 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.

Exception. 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. 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-08

Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Examples of specialized experience include but not limited to gathering diagnostic information, pulp vitality testing, charting of existing conditions, placing of rubber dam and matrices, selecting shades, placing retraction cord, placing and removing temporary restorations, fabricating temporary crowns and removing permanent cement from supragingival surfaces, place and remove surgical dressing, monitor nitrous oxide analgesia, and perform coronal polishing and the cleaning and polishing of removable prostheses. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. a. Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants.
2. b. Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments.
3. c. Ability to assist the Chief in Dental Clinic operations related to policy development, equipment requests and workload analysis.
4. d. Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative work relationships.
5. e. Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within section.
6. f. *Ability to perform supervisory functions such as assessing competency, providing performance appraisals and managing training.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

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

Preferred Experience

Demonstrated leadership experience supervising dental assistants. Strong knowledge of VHA directives, Joint Commission standards, OSHA regulations, infection control protocol and patient safety. Proven ability to mentor, train, and lead staff