Dental Assistant

<p>This position is located in the Dental Service at the Salem VA Medical Center (VAMC). Performs the duties of a dental assistant in a hospital based dental clinic. At this level serves as a staff assistant, assisting the provider and utilizing techniques of four-handed dentistry.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions under direct supervision.Duties include but are not limited to: Customer Service: Shows courtesy, respect and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public. Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provide service recovery. Chairside Assisting: Set up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Pass instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Keep operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably. Dental Imaging: Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization: Demonstrate proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories. Clerical Functions: Assist patients in scheduling appointments. Assist in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records. Information Management: Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follow computer security regulations. Patient Safety: Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position). Provide accurate and understandable instructions to patients. Employee Education: Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions. Dental Laboratory Functions: Coordination of Dental Laboratory cases with the doctor and the laboratory. Direct Patient Care: Provide post-operative and another appropriate patient education. Four-Handed dental procedures, assisting the dentist. Work directly supporting the GS-8 supervisory dental assistant and Hygienist during patient care. Chairside assistant to all specialty providers. Clean & Polish or dental appliances/prosthetics. Work Schedule: 7:30 AM- 4:00 PM and every other Friday off Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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. 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 identification 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.<h3>Education</h3>IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.