Dental Assistant

Description:

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is recruiting for one (1) Dental Assistant, in the Dental service. The position is located at the Carl T. Hayden VA Clinic in Phoenix, AZ. The Dental Assistant reports to the Supervisory Dentist, Lead Dental Assistant, or Supervisory Dental Assistant. The incumbent performs a wide range of tasks from patient care, dental imaging, and sterilization procedures.

Requirements:

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
  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), [TRANSCRIPT(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED. CONFERRAL OF DEGREE(S) SHOULD BE PRESENT ON TRANSCRIPT(S). UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) OK.] OR ,
  Experience/Education Combination . Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. [TRANSCRIPT(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED. UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) OK.]
• 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, [A COPY OF CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] 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, [A COPY OF CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] 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) [A COPY OF CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] .

Grade Determinations :
GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:

1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care, and procedures.
3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
5. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

Assignment. Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.

Preferred Experience: F amiliarity with the work, training in digital impression taking, using CAD software to design restorations, and operating CAM milling machines to fabricate single-visit crowns, bridges, and other restorations.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G36 - Title 38 Hybrid Dental Assistant

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (2 hours); near vision corrected to 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; and hearing (aid permitted).