Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Lincoln, NE

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist with direct patient care and independently performs other clinical and clerical functions under direct supervision. The role includes preparing and cleaning operatories or surgery suites, preparing patients and procedural trays, assisting chairside, maintaining a clear operative field, and following infection-control protocols. The Dental Assistant also provides preventive education and oral-hygiene instruction, takes and processes basic dental radiographs under direct supervision, manages imaging records, directs patients to staff for scheduling, and protects patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. The vacancy’s full-performance level is GS-06; selection may be at GS-03 through GS-06. Physical requirements may be addressed during a pre-employment examination or evaluation.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Six months of experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or familiarity with the work; OR successful completion of a one-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); OR an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Radiologic procedures require radiologic competence certification through one of the specified qualifying dental radiation health and safety examinations, courses, or programs. A qualifying non-certified applicant may receive a temporary appointment and must obtain certification during that period.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-4, in addition to basic requirements: one year of experience at the next lower level, or two years of post-high-school education including a CODA-accredited dental assistant program; and basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling, dental procedures and medical emergencies, radiographic image capture and processing or retrieval, dental equipment care and storage, and patient privacy requirements.
• For GS-5, in addition to GS-4 requirements: at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade demonstrating the relevant core competencies, or a full four-year course of study that included or was supplemented by a CODA-accredited dental assistant program; and knowledge of anatomy, diagnostic image quality, common medical emergencies and vital signs, instruments and standardized dental procedures, ability to use VHA software, and basic communication skills for patient instructions.
• For GS-6, in addition to the requirements at the next lower grade: at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-5 demonstrating the relevant core competencies, including the ability to identify normal oral anatomy; advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized procedures across restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care; ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs; independently provide procedure-specific patient education and refer patient concerns to the treating dentist; capture standard and special dental images of diagnostic quality; maintain dental equipment; use electronic dental records; and perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including background/security investigation and, for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions, urinalysis for illegal drug use.
• Must comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment upon completion.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.
• Must complete all application requirements detailed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
• Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification is highly desirable but is not required.

Responsibilities

• Set up operatories or surgery suites for planned dental procedures and clean dental units.
• Receive and prepare patients for treatment.
• Perform disinfection and sterilization procedures.
• Prepare procedural trays and armamentarium setups.
• Provide basic chairside assistance under direct instruction from the dentist.
• Keep the operative field free of debris and retract oral tissues effectively.
• Perform intra-operative procedures in accordance with standard infection-control protocols.
• Maintain the operative field during procedures using retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, and placement or removal of cotton balls.
• Provide preventive patient education and oral-hygiene instruction.
• Expose and process basic dental radiographs under direct supervision.
• Mount and label dental radiographs or save digital images to electronic medical records.
• Direct patients to appropriate staff for scheduling visits.
• Maintain confidentiality of written and verbal patient information in accordance with HIPAA.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income, child-eligibility, and monthly-limit conditions.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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