Dental Assistant

About the role

James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, Florida is currently recruiting for a Dental Assistant. The Dental Assistant performs a full range of duties with some independence in assignment, with direct and indirect supervision from the Lead Dental Assistant or treating Dentist. Examples of procedures may be diagnostic, restorative and/or surgical in nature.

Responsibilities

• Assists dentist with direct patient care
• Performs clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision
• Customer Service
• Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public
• Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, and provides service recovery
• Chairside Assisting
• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure, and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Keeps operative field clear of debris, 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
• Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry
• Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement, and restoration
• Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer's instructions and dental service standards
• Dental Imaging
• Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, ceph, cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats
• Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider
• Images 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
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images
• Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination
• Prepares instruments properly for transfer to SPD for sterilization
• Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment
• Works closely with SPD to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed
• Clerical Functions
• Assists 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
• Initiates computerized progress note
• Information Management
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA compliance 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)
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• Participates in patient identification and time out, per Joint Commission requirements
• Makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses
• Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
• Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 70192F
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, English Language Proficiency, and Certification in basic life support methods.
• Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures; Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs; Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist; Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality.