Dental Assistant
Dental Assistants at the full performance level serve in staff dental assistant positions independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties while receiving general administrative supervision. The Dental Assistants are responsible for the following duties:
Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for a timely turnover. Passes instruments safety, 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 controls protocols. Assists in routine dental procedures. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral maxillofacial surgery, endodontics and surgical periodontics. Assists patients in scheduling appointments. Imaging request within the desired time frame. Utilized dental imaging safety techniques while minimizing retakes. Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Work Schedule:
0730-1700, Monday-Thursday, Friday 0730-1600, Alternate Fridays off Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required Recruitment/Relocation:
Not Authorized 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 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). Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Certification. 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. 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. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Grandfather Provisions:
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:
(1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations:
Assignments at this level include but are not limited to:
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. Experience at the lower lever includes but not limited to responding to basic medical emergencies; measures and recording vital signs; providing pre- and postoperative instructions; maintaining a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls; using the concepts of fourhanded dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures; mixing basic dental materials; assisting in preparation of laboratory prescription forms; applying pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses; exposing and processing basic dental radiographs; mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records; evaluating radiographs for diagnostic quality; maintaining routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is 6. Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for a timely turnover. Passes instruments safety, 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 controls protocols. Assists in routine dental procedures. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral maxillofacial surgery, endodontics and surgical periodontics. Assists patients in scheduling appointments. Imaging request within the desired time frame. Utilized dental imaging safety techniques while minimizing retakes. Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Work Schedule:
0730-1700, Monday-Thursday, Friday 0730-1600, Alternate Fridays off Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required Recruitment/Relocation:
Not Authorized 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 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). Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Certification. 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. 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. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Grandfather Provisions:
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:
(1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations:
Assignments at this level include but are not limited to:
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. Experience at the lower lever includes but not limited to responding to basic medical emergencies; measures and recording vital signs; providing pre- and postoperative instructions; maintaining a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls; using the concepts of fourhanded dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures; mixing basic dental materials; assisting in preparation of laboratory prescription forms; applying pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses; exposing and processing basic dental radiographs; mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records; evaluating radiographs for diagnostic quality; maintaining routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is 6. Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
- Department:
0681 Dental Assistant - Salary Range:
$38,921 to $50,598 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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