Summary The Dental Assistant position is located in the Dental Service at the Leeds, MA location. This position is a Full-Time position at 40 hours per week. Responsibilities Customer Service: Show courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public; Provide assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery. Chairside Assisting: Set up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover; Pass instruments safely, accurately and efficiently Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably; Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols. Dental Imaging: Image are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed; Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimize; Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame. Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization: Ensure that all elements of infection control meet the standards for outside review groups, medical center standards and Dental Service standards; Demonstrate 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; Demonstrate proper infection control procedures in exposing images. Clerical Functions: Assist patients in scheduling appointments; Assist in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments; Chart findings, treatment plans and treatment provided in patients' electronic records. Information Management: Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations. Patient Safety: Modify care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position); Provide accurate and understandable instructions to patients; Participate in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements; Monitor patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress; Monitor patient's blood pressure during recovery period following procedure. Employee Education: Comply with Employee Education requirements; Complete mandatory annual safety training sessions; Education Liaison for the Dental Service. Dental Laboratory: Function pours impressions and prepares study models; Make final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims; Perform other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow. Direct Patient Care: Remove sutures and 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; Provide post-operative and other appropriate patient education. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday. Hours: 7:30am-4:00pm. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F08143. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Available. Probationary Period: According to Executive Order 14284, The first two year of continuous service in the same or similar position of a preference eligible in the excepted service is a trial period. The first 2 years of continuous service in the same or similar position of an individual in the excepted service (other than a preference eligible), is a trial period. 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 trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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. 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). 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). GS-6 (Full Performance Level) Experience. At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Examples of experience includes: measures and records vital signs; provides pre- and post-operative instructions; maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls; using the concepts of four-handed dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures; mixes basic dental materials. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. Preferred Experience: Five years of experience preferred. 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-06. Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods of time, use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
