Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration is current, permanent employees of the Orlando VA medical center in the Department (Service Line Employees).

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Administrative Responsibility:

• Assists Supervisory Dental Assistant to execute protocols to manage a team of dental assistants.
• Serves as lead assistant liaison for Corporate Orlando Dental Service-Lake Baldwin, Daytona Beach, and Viera OPC.
• Assist Supervisory Dental Assistant to lead the team in: distributing and balancing workload among dental assistants by established workflow.
• Establish a chain of command amongst the dental assistants to delegate administrative and clerical responsibilities under the direct supervision of the supervisory dental assistant
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of dental eligibility and the scope of care that may be provided based on the patient's dental classification.
• Tracks all biologic and non-biologic implants placed in the outpatient setting.
• Ensures non-biologic and biologic implant inventory is current and available for patient use.
• Enters prosthetic orders for replacement of all dental implant inventory, surgical drills, and all biologics.
• Maintains active oral pathology log and notifies patient of laboratory results.
• Maintains electronic log of all admissions and 23 hour observations.
• Coordinates operating room schedule and instrumentation.
• Assists with patient travel and lodging before surgical procedures.
• Coordinates post-operative appointments following surgical procedures.
• Coordinates next step of care in oral surgery and general dental clinics.
• Provides a daily report to the providers on open encounters and open imaging consults.
• Skilled in charting patient's oral cavity within DRM and sequencing treatment plans as instructed by the provider.
• Timekeeping responsibility
• Assist Supervisory Dental Assistant to coordinate leave schedule of all staff as needed.
• Maintenance of MSDS folders

Clerical Functions:

• Assist HAS with patient scheduling
• Timekeeping responsibility
• Maintenance of MSDS folders
• Record minutes of the dental meetings

Computer Skills:

• Must possess advance computer skills and demonstrate advanced competency level with Microsoft office
• Must be able to train other staff members as needed in computer related areas

Chairside Assisting:

• Extreme familiarity and full competency in all specialized dental procedures including: Oral maxillofacial surgery, implantology, surgery, implantology, periodontics, prosthodontics, and operating room dental assisting.
• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficientl
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Specialized Operating Room Duties
  • Adequately prepares the operating room for scheduled procedure.
  • Correctly maintains sterile field.
  • Accurately maintains needle and sponge counts and verifies count with circulator.
  • Accurately maintains record of medication amounts and irrigation amounts
  • utilized during the surgical procedure.
  • Appropriately labels all medications within the surgical field.
  • Appropriately tracks implants placed in the operating room.

Dental Imaging:

• lmages are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed.
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized
• Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization:

• Monitors & records compliance with infection control procedures
• Assist in efforts to standardize infection control protocols throughout Corporate Orlando.
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
• Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards
• Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images

Information Management:

• Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.
• Follows computer security regulations

Patient Safety:

• Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position).
• Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements.

Employee Education:

• Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Complete mandatory annual safety training sessions

Direct Patient Care:

• Monitor patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure.
• Coronal polishing of teeth
• Makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication.
• Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction.
• Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education.

Work Schedule: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday - Friday
Virtual: Not a virtual position.
Telework: Not available
Functional Statement #: 08340F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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 in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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.

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).

(2) 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) (1) (D). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This [will result in removal from the GS-681 series and] may result in termination of employment

(3) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.

(4) 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.

(5) Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

d. Grandfathering Provision. [All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including certification [(for positions above the full performance level)] that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey)level, or [changed to lower grade] within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees [MUST] meet the [certification]requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
2. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
3. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification /registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
4. If an employee who was retained [ ] under this provision leaves [the] occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

GS-7 Lead Dental Assistant

1. Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level 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

• Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants.
• Skill in coordinating clinical workflow and assignments.
• Ability to assist in dental program development, outcome management, and strategic planning.
• Skill in acting as the liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor.
• Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants.

3. Assignment. The Lead Dental Assistant works with the supervisor or Chief Dental Service to monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues, and maintain efficient flow of patient care; may approve brief periods of leave, provide training to staff dental assistants, students and/or trainees; may recommend special advancements and promotions, disciplinary actions, etc. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: provides instruction to other assistants in achieving diagnostic quality radiographs, provides instruction in maintenance of all dental service equipment, provides primary support to the chief for the daily delivery of department programs, reporting, staffing and scheduling, coordinates the patients' care plans to reduce redundancies and delay in patient treatment. Lead Dental Assistants generally would be found in Complexity Level 1 (High Complexity) or Complexity Level 2 (Medium Complexity) facilities, or in facilities of lesser complexity levels where large dental services are found. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-07

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.