Dental Assistant
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Augusta, GA, United States
Summary
Dental assistants at these levels of responsibility serve to perform a full range of duties and assigned procedures with some independence. They receive guidance from more experienced staff members for complex patient issues for which they require direct supervision and daily contact with the supervisor at the work site.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
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.
English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Experience and Education: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.
OR - Education: Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
Certification: Public law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Applicants 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.
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.; (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; (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).
Non‑certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a); failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment.
Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants; DANB certification is not required but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level and is required for all positions above the full performance level.
Grade Determinations: Dental Assistant - GS-3 Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment: Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily close supervision.
Dental Assistant - GS-4 Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements – 1 year of experience at the next lower level – or 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by CODA. The candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling; basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies; ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval; basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment; basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.
Dental Assistant - GS-5 Experience or Education: In addition to the GS-4 requirements – at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or a full 4‑year course of study that included a CODA‑accredited dental assistant program. The candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy; broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement; basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures; ability to learn and utilize software used within VHA; basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.
GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Technical KSAs: Ability to identify normal oral anatomy; advanced knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of 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 appropriate referral of patient concerns; ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality; ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment; ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records; ability to perform dental assistant‑appropriate laboratory procedures. May qualify under the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.
Duties
Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
Possesses advanced knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic, periodontic and implant care.
Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four‑handed dentistry and passes instruments safely, accurately and efficiently.
Maintains operative field, retracts oral tissues, prepares medicaments and impression materials, follows infection control protocols.
Monitors basic patient vital signs and condition during invasive treatment and recovery.
Applies topical anesthetic, takes and pours impressions, prepares study models and final denture trays.
Provides patient‑preventative education, post‑operative instructions and specialized oral hygiene instruction.
Assists in specialized dental procedures such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration.
Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays.
Exposes and processes standard and specialty dental images in traditional or digital formats.
Disinfects oral appliances, prepares instruments for sterilization, follows SOP for reusable medical equipment and works with SPS to ensure instrument availability.
Initiates computerized progress notes, assists in charting findings and treatment plans, maintains confidentiality per HIPAA, follows computer security regulations.
Monitors patient condition, participates in patient identification and time‑out per Joint Commission requirements, complies with employee education and mandatory annual training.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Recruitment incentive: Not authorized. Permanent change of station: Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary with regular increases. Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off. Parental leave: Up to 12 weeks paid after 12 months of employment. Child care subsidy: Eligibility if family income below $144,000. Retirement: Traditional federal pension and 401(k). Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, life and long‑term care. Telework / virtual: Not available.
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Dental assistants at these levels of responsibility serve to perform a full range of duties and assigned procedures with some independence. They receive guidance from more experienced staff members for complex patient issues for which they require direct supervision and daily contact with the supervisor at the work site.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
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.
English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Experience and Education: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.
OR - Education: Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
Certification: Public law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Applicants 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.
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.; (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; (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).
Non‑certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a); failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment.
Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants; DANB certification is not required but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level and is required for all positions above the full performance level.
Grade Determinations: Dental Assistant - GS-3 Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment: Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily close supervision.
Dental Assistant - GS-4 Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements – 1 year of experience at the next lower level – or 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by CODA. The candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling; basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies; ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval; basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment; basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.
Dental Assistant - GS-5 Experience or Education: In addition to the GS-4 requirements – at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or a full 4‑year course of study that included a CODA‑accredited dental assistant program. The candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy; broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement; basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures; ability to learn and utilize software used within VHA; basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.
GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Technical KSAs: Ability to identify normal oral anatomy; advanced knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of 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 appropriate referral of patient concerns; ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality; ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment; ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records; ability to perform dental assistant‑appropriate laboratory procedures. May qualify under the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.
Duties
Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
Possesses advanced knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic, periodontic and implant care.
Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four‑handed dentistry and passes instruments safely, accurately and efficiently.
Maintains operative field, retracts oral tissues, prepares medicaments and impression materials, follows infection control protocols.
Monitors basic patient vital signs and condition during invasive treatment and recovery.
Applies topical anesthetic, takes and pours impressions, prepares study models and final denture trays.
Provides patient‑preventative education, post‑operative instructions and specialized oral hygiene instruction.
Assists in specialized dental procedures such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration.
Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays.
Exposes and processes standard and specialty dental images in traditional or digital formats.
Disinfects oral appliances, prepares instruments for sterilization, follows SOP for reusable medical equipment and works with SPS to ensure instrument availability.
Initiates computerized progress notes, assists in charting findings and treatment plans, maintains confidentiality per HIPAA, follows computer security regulations.
Monitors patient condition, participates in patient identification and time‑out per Joint Commission requirements, complies with employee education and mandatory annual training.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Recruitment incentive: Not authorized. Permanent change of station: Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary with regular increases. Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off. Parental leave: Up to 12 weeks paid after 12 months of employment. Child care subsidy: Eligibility if family income below $144,000. Retirement: Traditional federal pension and 401(k). Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, life and long‑term care. Telework / virtual: Not available.
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