Dental Assistant

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, South Dakota, The Sioux Falls VA Healthcare System is recruiting for two (2) full-time Dental Assistants. The Dental Assistant will be part of the Dental Service that provides restorative, endodontic, periodontal, removable and fixed prosthodontic, including implant restorative, and minor oral surgery procedures. The Dental Service is aligned under the Surgical/Specialty Care Service Line. 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. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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 (DoD). 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). Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification (for positions above the full performance level)] that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees MUST meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-3 Experience or 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 GS-4 Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level,OR2 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). AND In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements GS-5 Experience or Education: In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4, applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-4 that demonstrates the core competencies described at the level. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA. AND In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA’s: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality. Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement. Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures. Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA. Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol. GS-6 Experience. 1 year at or equivalent to the next lower, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level (GS-5), that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

AND In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSA’s: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to identify normal oral anatomy Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures. References: VA Handbook 5005/46, Appendix G36 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. [“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: Administrative days Monday-Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required”]

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