Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans the operatory for a timely turnover.
• Keeps operative field clear of debris, passes instruments safely, and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions.
• Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols.
• Assists in routine general dental procedures.
• Utilize imaging safety techniques to minimize retakes.
• Assists in all basic restorative procedures, including oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics with the general dentist.
• Prepares for sterilization by the Sterilization Processing Department (SPD) standards.
• Assists dentists in charting findings and treatment plans in patients' electronic records.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIP AA regulations with written and verbal information.
• Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities.
• Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.
• Identifies and reports any possible hazards to the hospital Safety Officer.
• Pour impressions and prepare study models.
• Makes final custom impression trays.
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow.
• Provides post-procedural and other appropriate patient education.
• Complies with other general requirements for VHA / Facility Health Care Professionals.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:45am to 4:15pm.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not 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).

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: Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # 07033, 07034, 07035, 07036. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.