Career Center

The VA GLA Healthcare System Dental Service is one of the largest patientcare, education and research enterprises in VHA. GLA is a tertiary medical care facility which provides quality patient centered care in all aspects and specialties of dentistry including endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, maxillofacial prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery as well as general dentistry in an outpatient, inpatient (bedside), Community Living Center and operating room settings. 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. Experience and Education Experience. 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. 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. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR, 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, 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) (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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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). Please NOTE: You must provide at the appropriate certification above the GS-03. If not provided you will be screened out. Grade Determinations GS-03: (a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) 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. Grade Determinations GS-04: (a) 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 the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)]. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling. 2. Basic knowledge of dental procedures and [medical emergencies. 3. Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval. 4. Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment. 5. Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements. Grade Determinations GS-05: (a) Experience or Education (1) [In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate] at least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. [ ] OR (2) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by [CODA. (3) In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) above, the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic quality . 2. Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement. 3. [Basic] knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures. 4. Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA. 5. [Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol. Grade Determinations GS-06: (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. Preferred Experience: Please update References: VA Handbook 5005/46, Part II, Appendix G36 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing, walking, sitting, and bending are required. Pushing dental equipment and carts are necessary to deliver items to the operatory or procedure site. It is necessary to climb onto lifts to retrieve or store supplies, or to help the dentist carry out a surgical or dental procedure. Lifting of patients from gurneys or wheelchairs into the dental chair is required to position them for radiographs or dental examination and treatment. ["The GLA dental assistants are adept at assisting the vast levels of dental providers from its enormous local and affiliated educational programs which includes undergraduate dental students from 2 major affiliates (UCLA and USC School of Dentistry), dental hygiene trainees (from 4 ADA accredited programs) and GLA postgraduate dental residents from UCLA and USC Schools of Dentistry. Currently, GLA has the only Dental Research Fellowship Program in the VA system. Major duties: GLA dental assistants are proficient in the delivery of dental care in all disciplines/specialties of dentistry with any level dental provider in every environment/setting and have an extensive experience with impression procedures and materials as well as dental laboratory techniques, procedures, and materials including the proper handling and safety. In addition, GLA dental assistants are knowledgeable of preventive dentistry and autonomously provide proper oral hygiene instructions/techniques to individuals and groups of patients. GLA dental assistants are also proficient in the utilization of the dental program in the computer system for scheduling, dental record charting and making/completing electronic dental progress notes while complying with privacy requirements. All dental assistants are actively involved with the didactic and clinical training and supervision of dental assistant trainees from affiliated dental assistant training programs and volunteers from the immediate community (including high school students and undergraduate college students who want to pursue a career in dentistry). All dental assistants also have advanced knowledge in dental infection control and VA Reusable Medical/Dental Equipment regulations and educate and supervise the assistant trainees, dental students and new dental residents in these areas. The dental assistants participate in the Dental Service Performance Improvement Plans, System Redesign Projects, and Quality Assurance Monitoring. There are currently several GLA research projects which are all exclusively clinical studies, and the GLA dental assistants are an integral part of the professional enhancements and improvements in patient dental care in these progressive/creative scholarly ventures. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm\nCompressed/Flexible: Telework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000 (GS-03TGS-06)\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]