Dental Assistant

Saint Louis, Missouri, Missouri, The St. Louis VA Medical Center is recruiting for 4 Dental Assistants, in the Dental service. The Dental Assistant reports to the Supervisory Dental Assistant. The incumbent performs a wide range of tasks from patient care, dental imaging, and sterilization procedures, etc. 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. 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). ] 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, and is required for all positions above the full performance level. 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-6 – 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] Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. or over). Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs. ) Light lifting (15 lbs. and under). Light carrying (15 lbs. and under). Pushing (1 hour). Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingerprints.

Both hands required. Walking (up to 4 hours). Standing (up to 8 hours). Kneeling (up to 2 hours). Repeated bending (up to 6 hours). Ability to rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Near vision correctable at 13″ to 16″. Hearing (aid permitted). [“The incumbent will be responsible for performing the duties of a dental assistant in a hospital-based dental clinic. The Saint Louis, MO VA Hospital offers a full complement of health care services to eligible veterans.

The majority of patients seen in the Dental Service have multiple medical and/or psychiatric problems and are severely medically compromised patients requiring a full range of general and specialized dental procedures. Duties include but are not limited to: Receive and prepare patients. This may involve triaging the patient to determine the urgency of appointment date; as directed by the dentist, expose and develop, when appropriate, intra- and extra-oral dental images, record medical history, exam and treatment plan information relayed by the dentist. Maintain a variety of reports relating to dental activities and daily enter upcoming appointments in the VISTA computer system as well as the Dental Record Manager (DRM) computer program, to include selection of appropriate CPT and Diagnosis codes in the progress note documentation. Maintains dental equipment and materials in a clean and operative condition and properly stores and maintains adequate levels of supplies in the treatment rooms. If, at any time, the incumbent notices any supplies running low in the supply room, he/she immediately notifies the responsible person so that supplies can be reordered. Properly lays out all instruments and materials needed for each treatment procedure and prepares the patient and operatory for said procedures, strictly adhering to all pertinent infection control policies and procedures. Assists dentists at chair side in all phases of general dentistry, including specialized areas of prosthodontics (fixed and removable), endodontics, periodontics and oral surgery procedures utilizing techniques of four-handed sit down dentistry where indicated and appropriate. When oral surgical procedures are being performed, the incumbent assists the dentist or specialist while the patient is under local anesthesia in operations which include: simple and complex extractions including full and partial bony impactions; reductions of tori and tuberosities (pre-prosthetic surgeries); endosseous implant placement: apicoectomies; removal of stones in the salivary gland ducts; osseous and other periodontal surgeries including oral graft procedures; and excisional biopsies. Anticipating the operator’s need at each stage of the procedure, performs the following: passes instruments and materials to and retrieves them from the dentist; illuminates the field of surgery; retracts and stabilizes tissues; keeps field of surgery free of debris using irrigating solutions, suction tips and evacuator; applies force to chisel; cuts sutures; observes patient for signs of adverse reaction to treatment.

Assists in monitoring patient by noting vital signs. Adheres to necessary aseptic precautions and infection control procedures throughout treatment. Following surgery, debrides the surgical site, prepares surgical dressings and removes contaminated instruments and materials and decontaminates, prepares and packages instruments for proper sterilization by SPS following current infection control procedures. Follows Reusable Medical Equipment protocol as applicable and is certified annually on the specific equipment for which they are responsible. Packages tissue specimen and routes to pathology laboratory. Instructs patients in preventative dental care; measures general nutrition as related to dental health, the common cause of tooth decay and periodontal disease, and the care of prosthodontic appliances. Also relays post-surgical instructions from dentists for all types of post-surgical and post-treatment care. Work Schedule: 7:00 AM-3:30 PM Monday – Friday Telework: No authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position . Functional Statement #: 000000 Dental Assistant Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required”]

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