Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Lincoln, NE

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently with direct supervision. Duties Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit. Receives and prepares for patient treatment. Performs disinfection and sterilizing procedures. Prepares procedural trays/armamentaria set ups. Performs basic chairside assisting with direct instruction from dentist. Keeps operative field free of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively. Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols. Maintains a field of operation during dental procedures using retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton balls. Provides patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction. Exposed and processes basic dental radiographs with direct supervision. Mounts and labels dental radiographs or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records. Directs patient to appropriate staff for scheduling visits. Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• Driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment effective May 7, 2025.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Must serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.
• OR 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.
• Must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in 42 CFR Part 75, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.
• 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.
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4: 1 year of experience at the next lower level, OR 2 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)].
• GS-4 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: At least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that 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
• GS-5 KSAs: 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: At least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] the next lower grade level (GS-5) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
• GS-6 KSAs: 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.

Nice To Haves

• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). DANB certification is not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level.

Responsibilities

• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit.
• Receives and prepares for patient treatment.
• Performs disinfection and sterilizing procedures.
• Prepares procedural trays/armamentaria set ups.
• Performs basic chairside assisting with direct instruction from dentist.
• Keeps operative field free of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively.
• Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols.
• Maintains a field of operation during dental procedures using retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton balls.
• Provides patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction.
• Exposed and processes basic dental radiographs with direct supervision.
• Mounts and labels dental radiographs or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records.
• Directs patient to appropriate staff for scheduling visits.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree