Job Details

Dental Assistant

Incumbent performs chairside dental assistant duties in all phases of restorative, prosthodontic, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal treatment as provided in the dental clinic or operating room. The employee operates dental X-ray equipment to take intra- and extra-oral radiographs. The employee also assists in training students from affiliated schools, observing and advising them as they perform their duties.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure with minimum of interruption after procedure begins
• Cleans operatory/equipment for timely turnover
• Passes instruments to and from the dentist safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably for the patient
• 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
• Record patient vital signs
• Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, prosthodontics and periodontics
• Assists dentist/hygienist with on-ward dental examinations
• Assists the other assistants with their duties
• Assists dental hygienist and student hygienists as time permits and as required
• Supervises, trains and evaluates student dental assistants while maintaining treatment flow
• Maintains room materials inventory in assigned room, and other rooms as needed
• Follows standardized room set-up and supply stocking arrangement to facilitate any other team assistant using the room without need to hunt for supplies
• Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Confirms patient appointments
• Answers telephone courteously and professionally
• Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
• Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical stress
• Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Operates and maintains 30 printers, milling machines, and scanners

Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements:

• 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, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• Experience and Education:
• (1) Experience: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR,
• (2) Education: Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
• (3) Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.

Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence:

• (a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR,
• (b) 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,
• (c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a) (1) (D). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This will result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment.

Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.

Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB): The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level.

English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

• GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4: In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level, OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)].
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies
• Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval