Lead Dental Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs

The Lead Dental Assistant position in Dental Service at the Ernest Childers Outpatient Clinic, Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System, plans and completes dental tasks per established protocols. The role works independently with dentist support as needed and informs the supervisor of issues with recommendations. Work is reviewed for adherence to Dental Service policy and requirements.

• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Eastern Oklahoma - Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System Total Rewards - Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Key Duties and Responsibilities: Performs mouth mirror inspections and gathers diagnostic information Charts existing restorations, conditions, and selects shades for prostheses Places/removes rubber dams, matrix bands, and retraction cords Places/removes temporary restorations and crowns/bridges; cleans tooth preparations Fabricates, adjusts, and cements temporary crowns Removes permanent cement from supragingival surfaces Assists with vitality testing, applies topical anesthetic, and manages surgical dressings/sutures Monitors nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia and patient vital signs during/invasive and recovery periods Performs coronal polishing of teeth and removes/polishes hard accretions from removable prostheses Sets up/cleans operatory and dental units for efficient turnover Demonstrates advanced knowledge of dental instruments, materials, and procedures for restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care Assists in general and specialized dental procedures (oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implants) using four-handed techniques Passes instruments safely and efficiently; keeps field clear and retracts tissues effectively Prepares dental medicaments, impression materials, and follows infection control protocols for all procedures Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer's instructions and dental service standards Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and prosthetic fabrication Provides patient-specific preventative education and oral hygiene instruction; relays patient concerns to the dentist Demonstrates advanced imaging proficiency (cone beam, cephalometric, panoramic, TMJ): identifies dental anatomy, exposes images, captures diagnostic images using safety techniques, modifies settings as needed, and minimizes retakes Completes imaging within required timeframes; ensures infection control in operatory preparation, imaging, and sterilization of oral appliances/instruments according to SOPs Collaborates with SPS to ensure instrument availability and prevent clinical delays Assists in filling schedule gaps due to cancellations/no-shows Initiates computerized progress notes; assists dentist in charting findings/treatment plans Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA and computer security regulations Adapts care based on patient age and ability; provides clear instructions; participates in patient identification/time outs Monitors patient condition throughout treatment for signs of distress Completes required annual and ongoing employee education and maintains DANB certification Pours impressions, prepares study models, makes final denture trays, bite rims, and fabricates athletic mouth guards/bleaching trays Performs other dental laboratory and administrative tasks as needed Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 5:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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 #: 623-51289-A

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