Dental Assistant (Clinical Expanded Function)

Veterans Health Administration • Evansville, IN

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Evansville Health Care Center in Evansville, Indiana, is hiring a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) for Dental Service. The EFDA provides direct patient care within the scope of practice, demonstrates mastery of a range of dental procedures and interventions, and makes independent professional decisions and recommendations to the treating dentist and interdisciplinary teams. This role performs advanced clinical duties in assigned specialties as well as the full range of routine patient-care duties. The incumbent must maintain current Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification.

The EFDA assists general dentists and dental specialists with direct patient care and performs clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. The position informs the supervisor of problems or unusual situations and recommends appropriate action. A supervisor reviews work overall for conformity with Dental Service policy and requirements.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not available for telework and is not a virtual position. Work is performed in a hospital-based dental clinic with recurring exposure to contagious diseases, radiation, mercury contamination, and chemical agents. Universal precautions, including at least gloves, masks, and eye protection, are required during patient treatment. Physical demands include long periods of standing and walking, considerable bending and stooping, and assisting patients from wheelchairs or supporting patients on stretchers or gurneys.

Requirements

• Current Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification is required for this position above the full-performance level.
• At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent demonstrating the core competencies for that level.
• Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques, including cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic, and TMJ imaging, sufficient to provide instruction.
• Meet the basic qualification through one of the stated routes: six months of relevant experience; successful completion of a one-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Radiologic competence certification through an accepted examination, course, or radiation health and safety program/examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense. Submit radiologic competence certification with the application.
• U.S. citizenship, except where the stated VA policy permits appointment of a non-citizen when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and be subject to background/security investigation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Must complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete application requirements listed in the announcement.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment after that period.
• Long periods of standing and walking, considerable bending and stooping, and assisting patients from wheelchairs or supporting patients on stretchers or gurneys are required.
• Must adhere to universal precautions, including at least gloves, masks, and eye protection, during every patient treatment.

Nice To Haves

• Basic life support certification is highly desirable.
• At least one year at the next lower grade level or equivalent, as stated for the GS-7 grade determination.

Responsibilities

• Perform oral-cavity inspections using a mouth mirror; gather diagnostic information; perform pulp vitality testing; and chart existing restorations and conditions.
• Select shades for fixed and removable prostheses.
• Place and remove rubber dams, matrix bands, retraction cord, intracoronal temporary restorations, surgical dressings, and sutures as appropriate to the procedure.
• Remove temporary crowns and bridges and clean tooth preparations; fabricate, adjust, and cement temporary crowns; and remove permanent cement from supragingival surfaces.
• Monitor nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia and perform coronal polishing of teeth and removal of hard accretions from and polishing of removable prostheses.
• Assist dentists with restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care using advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized procedures, including four-handed dentistry.
• Monitor and perform basic interpretation of patient vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, and pulse oximeter readings, and monitor patient condition during invasive treatment and recovery.
• Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials according to manufacturer instructions, follow infection-control protocols during procedures, and relay patient concerns to the treating dentist.
• Maintain routine and specialty dental equipment according to manufacturer instructions and Dental Service standards.
• Provide instruction on advanced imaging techniques; expose standard and specialty dental images in traditional or digital formats; adjust settings as requested; and capture diagnostic-quality, accurately oriented images while minimizing retakes and meeting requested timelines.
• Set up and clean operatories, disinfect oral appliances, prepare instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization, follow reusable medical equipment procedures, coordinate with SPS to ensure instruments are available, and apply infection-control procedures during imaging.
• Help fill schedule gaps caused by late cancellations and missed appointments; initiate computerized progress notes; and assist dentists with recording findings and treatment plans.
• Protect patient confidentiality in written and verbal information and follow computer security regulations.
• Complete required employee education and annual mandatory training and maintain required DANB certification.
• Pour impressions and prepare study models; make final denture impression trays and prepare bite rims; remove plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses; fabricate athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays; and perform other requested dental laboratory functions.
• Inform the supervisor of problems or unusual situations and recommend appropriate action.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for prior federal work or military service if requested and approved before appointment; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed