Dental Assistant- Clinical Expanded Function

Veterans Health Administration • Saint Cloud, MN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant assists general dentists and dental specialists with direct patient care and independently performs clinical and clerical functions beyond direct supervision. The role supports restorative, surgical, endodontic, periodontal, prosthodontic, implant, and other dental procedures, including patient monitoring, imaging, infection control, documentation, and patient education.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The position is at the GS-7 full performance level. Telework and virtual work are not available. Recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the basic experience or education requirement: six months of qualifying experience, successful completion of a one-year ADA CODA-accredited dental assistant program, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Meet radiologic competence requirements through an approved education program and certification, or one of the listed qualifying examinations or programs.
• For the GS-7 level, at least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-6 or equivalent) demonstrating the specified core competencies.
• For the GS-7 level, certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
• For the GS-7 level, demonstrate ability to perform expanded dental-assisting functions and comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques.
• Participate in required pre-employment screening, including drug testing for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and the required pre-employment examination or evaluation.
• Complete the online onboarding process and required application documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Health Care Personnel.

Nice To Haves

• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
• DANB certification is highly desirable for dental assistant appointments up to and including the full performance level, and required above the full performance level.

Responsibilities

• 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, and intracoronal temporary restorations.
• Remove temporary crowns and bridges, clean tooth preparations, fabricate, adjust, and cement temporary crowns, and remove permanent cement from supragingival surfaces.
• Remove hard accretions from and polish removable prostheses, and remove sutures.
• Monitor nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia.
• Perform coronal polishing of teeth.
• Set up operatories and surgery suites for planned procedures and clean dental units for timely turnover.
• Monitor and perform basic interpretation of patient vital signs and condition during invasive treatment and recovery.
• Assist with routine general dental procedures using four-handed dentistry; pass instruments safely and efficiently and keep the operative field clear while retracting oral tissues comfortably.
• Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials according to manufacturers’ instructions.
• Maintain clean, operational dental treatment areas and follow standard infection-control protocols during intra-operative procedures.
• Assist with specialized procedures, including oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and implant placement and restoration.
• Take impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication.
• Provide procedure-specific preventive education and oral hygiene instruction.
• Expose standard and specialty dental images in traditional and digital formats and provide instruction using advanced imaging techniques.
• Disinfect oral appliances and prepare instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization.
• Help fill gaps in the dentist’s schedule caused by late cancellations and failed appointments.
• Assist the dentist with documenting findings, treatment plans, and treatment in patient records.
• Initiate computerized treatment and progress notes and Return to Clinic Orders.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• 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 and other eligibility limits.
• 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed