Dental Assistant

Summary
This Dental Assistant position is in Dental services at the VA Maine Healthcare Systems, located at the Portland or Bangor location. This position is full-time at 40 per week.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
Areas of Consideration are as follow: FIRST - Facility-wide (including satellites), SECOND - Administration or Staff office posting the vacancy, THIRD - The Department or from any other appropriate source. The Public
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Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to:
Chairside Assisting

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions
• Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Assists in routine general dental procedures
• Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, and surgical periodontics

Dental Imaging

• Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized
• Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization

• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
• Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards
• Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images
• Demonstrates skill/knowledge/ability to perform treatments, procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to their assigned duties.

Clerical Functions

• Assists patients in scheduling appointments
• Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• Uses word processing software to execute several office automations functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. Uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), and Dental Record Manager Plus (DRM+) to access information in the facility computer system.
• Locates appointments and properly completes all dental laboratory cards /tracks all pending patient lab cases for use during patient care.

Patient Safety

• Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• Participates in patient identification and time out per The Joint Commission requirements
• Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress
• Monitors patient (BP, pulse), and condition preoperatively and during recovery period following procedure

Employee Education

• Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions

Dental Laboratory Functions

• Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims
• Fabricates athletic mouth guards and fluoride trays
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow

Direct Patient Care

• Remove sutures and removal of periodontal surgical dressing
• Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris
• Recement and fabricate temporary crowns
• Coronal polishing of teeth
• Place rubber dams and matrix bands
• Applies topical fluoride
• Completes medication reconciliation as appropriate
• Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education

Care Coordination and Patient Management

• Is actively involved in the case planning process for each patient
• Questions patient as to chief complaint and identifies conditions needing immediate intervention
• Reviews scheduled patient's medical records and initiates necessary precautions
• Ensures appropriate instruction and consent is provided and received for the procedure
• Coordinates care plan to avoid redundancy and delay in treatment
• Coordinates the scheduling with all providers
• Suggests alternative care strategies to the dentist to advance patient care
• Will actively participate in clinic System Redesign activities

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm or Tuesday thru Friday 7:00am -5:30pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 402-F04411, 402-F04412, 402-F04413 and 402-F04414
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• May be subject to satisfactory completion of our credentialing process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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. 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.
• (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 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.
• (3) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
• English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

GS-3 Grade Determination.
(a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-4 Grade Determination.
(a) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level, OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a Dental Assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation CODA. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

1. Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling.
2. Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies.
3. Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval.
4. Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment.
5. Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.

GS-5 Grade Determination
(a) Experience or Education. In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. OR, (2) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a Dental Assistant program by CODA. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

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

GS-6 (Full Performance Level)
(a) Experience. At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
(b) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.
References:VA HANDBOOK 5005 PART II APPENDIX G36
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information

• THIS OPEN & CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, which closes on 12/27/2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 10/31/2023 with subsequent reviews every other week as additional vacancies occur, or on an as-needed basis, until positions are filled. Please see the "What To Expect Next" area of the announcement which provides addi...