Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Meade, SD

14h • Onsite

About The Position

This Dental Assistant position is within the VA Black Hills Health Care System and supports operations at the Fort Meade, South Dakota location. The incumbent assists the dentist with direct patient care and clerical functions, independently of direct supervision. The full performance level is GS-06.

The Dental Assistant supports routine and specialized dental procedures, prepares and maintains treatment areas and instruments, captures diagnostic dental images, monitors patients during treatment, and provides patient education. The role also includes dental laboratory work, patient scheduling, recordkeeping, supply and timekeeping duties, and maintaining patient confidentiality.

Requirements

• At least six months of experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or familiarity with it; alternatively, successful completion of a one-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Meet radiologic competence requirements through one of the listed qualifying dental radiation health and safety examinations, courses, or programs approved by the specified national, state, or Department of Defense authorities. Non-certified applicants who otherwise qualify may receive a temporary appointment and must obtain certification during that period.
• For the GS-6 full-performance level, at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5), demonstrating the core competencies for that level.
• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care.
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriately refer patient concerns to the treating dentist.
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
• Ability to maintain dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
• Ability to enter and retrieve data using electronic dental records.
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to stated exceptions for non-citizens under VA policy.
• Must pass the required pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and applicable background and security investigation; designated applicants are subject to pre-employment drug testing.
• Must meet onboarding and identification requirements, complete application requirements, and comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• 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 and transcript.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Show courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude toward patients, coworkers, and the public.
• Set up the operatory or surgery suite for planned procedures and clean the dental unit for timely turnover.
• Pass instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently; keep the operative field clear and retract oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials according to manufacturers’ instructions.
• Perform intra-operative procedures in accordance with infection-control protocols and comply with Reusable Medical Equipment requirements.
• Assist with routine general dental procedures and specialized procedures, including oral maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, and surgical periodontics.
• Capture dental images of diagnostic quality with accurate orientation and exposure; use imaging safety techniques and minimize retakes.
• Assist patients with scheduling appointments and filling schedule gaps caused by late cancellations or missed appointments.
• Assist the dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records.
• Perform timekeeping, dental supply clerk, and local administrative assistant duties.
• Maintain patient confidentiality in written and verbal communications in accordance with HIPAA.
• Monitor patient condition and vital signs during treatment and watch for signs of physical distress.
• Pour impressions and prepare study models; make final denture impression trays and prepare bite rims.
• Remove sutures and periodontal surgical dressings; take impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication.
• Remove temporary crowns or bridges and clean debris from tooth preparations; recement and fabricate temporary crowns.
• Perform coronal polishing and place rubber dams and matrix bands.
• Provide postoperative and other appropriate patient education.
• Perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures and maintain equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.

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 experience, subject to approval.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to income, child eligibility, and monthly maximum limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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