Summary

Incumbent is responsible for performing the duties that a dental assistant would be required to perform in a hospital-based dental clinic. The VA St. Louis Health Care System offers a full complement of health care services to veterans. The patients seen by the Dental Service have multiple medical and/or psychiatric problems requiring a full range of general and specialized dental procedures. The assistant is responsible for making preparations for each treatment.

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:

• 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)
• (3) 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 of38 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 GS-6 - and is required for all positions above the full performance level
• (5) 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
• (6) English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• 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-07 Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant 1
• Experience
• At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 2
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities a
• Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions
• b
• Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g
• cone beam - cephalometric - advanced panoramic imaging - TMJ - etc)
• Certification: Qualified applicants must carry active certification through Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) with a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) accreditation for position eligibility
• Qualified applicants must also possess additional training and certifications in expanded functions for Dental Assistants
• Preferred certifications include Fixed and/or Removable Prosthodontics
• Preferred Experience: Experience working as an Assistant to a dental specialist or in a hospital environment
• Minimum of six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work - or provides familiarity with the work
• 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-07
• Physical Requirements: Dental assistants frequently use hands to handle - control - or feel objects - tools - or controls
• repeat the same movements
• stand and sit throughout the day
• bend or twist their body
• It is important for dental assistants to be able to see details of objects that are less than a few feet away
• use fingers or hands to grasp - move - or assemble very small objects
• hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm
• speak clearly so listeners can understand
• understand the speech of another person
• make quick - precise adjustments to machine controls
• see differences between colors - shades - and brightness
• move two or more limbs together (for example - two arms - two legs - or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.

Duties

• Incumbent is responsible for: Making preparations for each treatment
• Having the patient's records ready Laying out the necessary instruments - medications and materials in proper arrangement for use by the dentist
• Seating and draping patient
• and - when required - explaining treatment procedures to the patient - Mixing materials for impressions and restorations - or assembling syringes for anesthesia
• Obtains and records the patient's blood pressure - temperature or pulse when needed
• At chairside - the assistant may participate in stand-up dentistry or four-handed sit-down dentistry
• Passes instruments - medications and materials such as surgical dressings - syringes and a variety of material for impressions and restorations
• The assistant employs proper techniques and dexterity in passing these materials to and retrieving them from the dentist
• Actively participates in the treatment procedure by retracting tissue - tongue and cheek
• keeping area of operation clear and preventing build-up of saliva and oral debris in patient's mouth by using suction tip and oral evacuator
• stabilizing tissue and clipping sutures in oral surgery
• and applying force to chisel guided by dentist in the removal of impacted teeth
• Observes patient throughout treatment for signs of fainting - shock or other distress
• This requires the dental assistant to use skill in communicating and influencing these patients to cooperate during each treatment episode
• Additional duties as needed Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00am - 330pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 Availale Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized