Dental Assistant

Basic Requirements : a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.

b. 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 education are qualifying. c. 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 : (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1.

Ability to identify normal oral anatomy. 2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.

3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs. 4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist 5.

Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. 6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.

7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. 8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

GS-7 Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Lead Dental Assistant. At this level, dental assistants serve either as a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Lead Dental Assistant.

For all positions above the full performance level, duties must be assigned to the position at least 25% of the time. (a) Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant 1.

Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs : 2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities a.

Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions. b. Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.

g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc). Preferred Experience : References : VA Handbook 5005 / 46 Part II Appendix G36 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS- 7.