Dental Assistant - OCA

Dental Assistant

This position is within the Dental Program located at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The position entails a wide range of intra-oral dental procedures and provides chair-side assistance in the clinic and operating room setting. The incumbent assists with, performs and educates patients regarding intra-oral procedures associated with various phases of restorative (prosthodontic and maxillofacial prosthetic), periodontal, endodontic, and oral surgery procedures.

Major Duties :

General : Maintain dental equipment in a clean and operative condition. Provide 4-handed dentistry that includes patient seating, draping, retraction, suction and passing of instruments. Support and follow all infectious disease policies including proper management of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME). Independently provides procedure-specific patient education, including preventive dental care and pre-and post-operative instruction. Refers patient concerns to a treating dentist. Explain elementary rationale for prescribed dental treatments. Take preliminary medical histories and interprets vital signs to be reviewed by the dentist. Enter, record, and retrieve information related to the medical and dental history as relayed to the dentist or patient. Phone triage of patients to determine whether requires licensed provider attention. Take impressions for study casts, diagnostic casts, or occlusal guards. Responsible for more than one dentist when required by the clinic. Maintain current required training. Other dental supportive services authorized by the licensed dentist while the Registered Dental Responsible for Dental Unit Waterline disinfection.

Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics : Aid in tooth shade selection. Fabricate provisional crowns. Place and remove matrix bands. Select and pre-fit provisional crowns. Remove temporary cement (not including temporary fillings). Apply desensitizing agents to teeth.

Periodontics : Remove sutures placed by a licensed dentist. Remove protective surgical dressings.

Endodontics : Place and remove rubber dam. Maintain entire inventory for endodontic instrument.

Radiography : Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. Performs the full range of dental radiography, including cone beam CT. Take radiographs of inpatients and outpatients according to prescription including periapical, bitewing, occlusal extra-oral (lateral jaw AP) etc., and panoramic radiograph. Know how to electronically request and record digital images. Correctly position patients and films / sensor to achieve proper radiographic angles. Checks all images to assure diagnostic quality and clarity to enable the examining dentist to have maximum radiographic information.

Oral Surgery : Has advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures in all phases of restorative, endodontic, and periodontal care and procedures. Route patients for further medical testing when required. Assist dentist in dental assistant-appropriate procedures, such as implants. Maintain sterility according to clinic and medical center procedures. Keep inventory of all equipment and supplies and informs supervisor when supplies are inadequate. Prepare instruments sterile trays, equipment and materials and assumes that they are present and properly arranged for the operative procedure. Preparation of general anesthesia, I.V., and oxygen anesthesia equipment. Maintain the crash cart including drug management. Other duties as required.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 7 : 30 am - 4 : 00 pm

Telework : Not Available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 21X45A

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements Conditions of Employment :

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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.

Qualifications : Basic Requirements :

United States Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Experience and Education : (1) Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR, (2) Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)]. (3) Experience / Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and 2 education are qualifying.

Certification :

Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field. (1) Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence (a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR, (b) 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, (c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

Grade Determinations :

GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs.

Physical Requirements :

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Work Environment : Work is performed in an office / clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.