Lead Dental Assistant

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Lead Dental Assistant works with the Dental Service Chief and Supervisory Dental Assistant to monitor and make work assignments provide input on performance resolve daily workplace issues and maintain efficient flow of patient care. The Lead Dental Assistant assists the dental team in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical dental laboratory administrative/clerical and program management functions independently of direct supervision.

Duties and responsibilities of the Lead Dental Assistant include but are not limited to:

• Leads a team of dental employees and Fee Basis dental providers. Provides the guidance and technical direction necessary for accomplishing the work of the team. Takes responsibility for the dental teams performance on National dental performance measures/monitors and indicators.
• Serves as a work leader assuring the work assignments of employees in the unit are carried out. Coordinates daily work assignments at the start of the shift and throughout the day as the need arises.
• Monitors the status and progress of work and makes adjustments in accordance with established priorities. Obtains assistance from the Dental Chief or Supervisory Dental Assistant as needed for major issues or problems which arise.
• Provides expert advice on specific tasks procedures and policies.
• Identifies training needs and instructs employees in specific tasks and job techniques. Trains employees and fee basis providers in computerized dental patient record systems including generating patient consults storing and viewing digital images entry of diagnostic data and preparation of treatment plans.
• Trains (or makes arrangements for training) team members students and volunteers in the accomplishment of tasks or projects.
• Maintains current knowledge and answers questions from team members on procedures policies and directives.
• Makes written instructions reference materials and relevant background material available. Obtains needed information on decisions from the Dental Chief or Supervisory Dental Assistant on major issues and problems that arise.
• Provides input in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Reusable Medical Devices (RMD). Trains dental team in SOPs and reports noncompliance to Dental Chief or Supervisory Dental Assistant.

Conditions of employment

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification 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.

• 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.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education and Experience:

• Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicants ability to perform the work or provides familiarity with the work.

• Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Associations Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

• 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 (DoD).

• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
• 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 in traditional or digital formats.
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

• Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice and 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.