Lead Dental Assistant

Summary

The Lead Dental Assistant position with the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center is located in Jackson - MS. This position works with the Supervisory Dental Assistant or Dental Service Chief to monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues, and maintain efficient flow of patient care. Provide training to staff dental assistants, students, and/or trainees; and may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties.

About the Role

This position works with the Supervisory Dental Assistant or Dental Service Chief to monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues, and maintain efficient flow of patient care. Provide training to staff dental assistants, students, and/or trainees; and may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties.

Responsibilities

• Leads a team of employees performing at the GS-7 level or below
• Provides guidance and technical direction necessary for accomplishing the work of the team
• Serves as a work leader, assuring the work assignments of employees in the unit are carried out
• Covers daily dental assistant work assignments at the start of the shift and throughout the day as the need arises
• Maintains the status and progress of work and makes adjustments in accordance with established priorities
• Serves as Systems Redesign Coordinator
• Obtains assistance from the supervisor as needed for major issues or problems which arise
• Instructs employees in specific tasks and job techniques
• Trains employees (dentist and dental assistants) in computerized dental patient record systems including generating patient consults, storing and viewing digital images, entry of diagnostic data, and preparation of treatment planning
• Trains team members in the accomplishment of tasks or projects
• Maintains current knowledge and answers questions from team members on procedures, policies, and directives
• Provides input in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the dental staff for Reusable Medical Equipment
• Serves as a liaison between the scheduler and the dentist to maintain efficient and productive use of the dentist's patient care time and minimize missed opportunities
• Sets up operatory 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
• Produces images characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized and retakes are minimized
• Practices proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
• Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards
• Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• Prepares cases for the dental laboratory and ensures timely retrieval of completed cases from the laboratory
• Performs Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Removes temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris
• Receives and prepares patients for dental treatment and assists the dentist at chairside
• Administers pre-procedural mouth rinses, as ordered by dentist
• Places rubber dams and matrix band
• Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, English Language Proficiency, Experience, Education, or Experience/Education Combination
• Experience: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides familiarity with the work. OR Successful completion of a 1 year Dental Assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). OR Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
• 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.
• Public Law 97-35: Credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75
• 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.
• Grandfathering Provision: 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).

Qualifications

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants, skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments, ability to assist in dental program development, outcome management, and strategic planning, skill in acting as liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor, ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants.
• Preferred Experience: One (1) to Two (2) Years of management experience leading over five (5) people.

Benefits

Includes Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional, including assistance with obtaining assistance from the supervisor as needed for major issues or problems which arise, instructing employees in specific tasks and job techniques, training employees (dentist and dental assistants) in computerized dental patient record systems including generating patient consults, storing and viewing digital images, entry of diagnostic data, and preparation of treatment planning, maintaining current knowledge and answering questions from team members on procedures, policies, and directives, providing input in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the dental staff for Reusable Medical Equipment, serving as a liaison between the scheduler and the dentist to maintain efficient and productive use of the dentist's patient care time and minimize missed opportunities, setting up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleaning dental unit for timely turnover, passing instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently, keeping operative field clear of debris and retracting oral tissues effectively and comfortably, producing images characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed, dental imaging safety techniques are utilized and retakes are minimized, practicing proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories, instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards, modifying care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position), providing accurate and understandable instructions to patients, preparing cases for the dental laboratory and ensuring timely retrieval of completed cases from the laboratory, performing Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication, removing temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris, receiving and preparing patients for dental treatment and assisting the dentist at chairside, administering pre-procedural mouth rinses, as ordered by dentist, placing rubber dams and matrix band, providing post-operative and other appropriate patient education, and more.

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).

Schedule

Monday - Friday: 7:30am - 4:00pm OR 8:00am - 4:30pm - subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Total Rewards

Includes Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional, including assistance with obtaining assistance from the supervisor as needed for major issues or problems which arise, instructing employees in specific tasks and job techniques, training employees (dentist and dental assistants) in computerized dental patient record systems including generating patient consults, storing and viewing digital images, entry of diagnostic data, and preparation of treatment planning, maintaining current knowledge and answering questions from team members on procedures, policies, and directives, providing input in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the dental staff for Reusable Medical Equipment, serving as a liaison between the scheduler and the dentist to maintain efficient and productive use of the dentist's patient care time and minimize missed opportunities, setting up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleaning dental unit for timely turnover, passing instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently, keeping operative field clear of debris and retracting oral tissues effectively and comfortably, producing images characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed, dental imaging safety techniques are utilized and retakes are minimized, practicing proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories, instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards, modifying care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position), providing accurate and understandable instructions to patients, preparing cases for the dental laboratory and ensuring timely retrieval of completed cases from the laboratory, performing Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication, removing temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris, receiving and preparing patients for dental treatment and assisting the dentist at chairside, administering pre-procedural mouth rinses, as ordered by dentist, placing rubber dams and matrix band, providing post-operative and other appropriate patient education, and more.

Physical Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions. The area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday: 7:30am - 4:00pm OR 8:00am - 4:30pm - subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Not Authorized

Telework

Not Available

Virtual

No