Dental Assistant

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

**If you are not a current permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency you should apply CBST--26-SC.**

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Adjusts to change or work pressure in a pleasant manner handle differences of opinion in a businesslike fashion follow instructions conscientiously and function as a team member helping the group effort where possible.
• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Passes instrument safely accurately and efficiently. Keeps operative filed clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression material per manufacturers instructions. Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols. Assists in routine general dental procedures.
• 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.
• Shares comprehensive working knowledge of imaging techniques and provides instruction to others.
• Places contaminated instruments in bins for sterilization by SPS verifying that the correct instruments are in each kit.
• Enters notes into the VistA or CPRS data base and Dental Record Manager Plus. Schedules patients completes routing slips and completes appointment management duties.
• Verifies that all digital images are sent and received in VISTA imaging.
• Modifies care as necessitated by patients age and abilities (patient transfer and position). Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients. Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAFIO requirements. Monitors patient condition during treatment being alert for signs of physical distress.
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• Pours impressions and prepares study models. Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims. Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow.
• Places appropriate instruments and materials in the operatory/ for the identified procedure so that there is no break in the treatment to retrieve something that was not available.
• Passes instruments according to the technique developed for addition keeps field clear for operation free of debris water and/or blood.
• Takes clinically acceptable x-rays and trains new hires on all x-ray equipment as needed. Follows clinic and facility infection control practices between patients and ensures all other dental assistants are doing so.

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 evaluation.
• 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Dental Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Experience and Education:
  • Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicants ability to perform the work or provides familiarity with the work. OR
  • Education. Successful completion of a 1 year Dental Assistant program accredited by the American Dental Associations Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). OR
  • 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:
  • 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.
• Exception. 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.

• Experience planning dental procedures.
• Experience passing instruments safely accurately and efficiently (four-handed dentistry).
• Experience with intra-operative procedures within the standard infection control protocols.
• Experience independently exposing both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ Ceph Cone Beam) in traditional and/or digital formats.
• Experience taking clinically acceptable x-rays.
• Experience working with Nomad Portable X-ray Devices.
• Experience correctly mounting images in CPRS/DRM Plus System within the desired timeframe and can minimize retakes.
• Works independently and with multiple providers daily in a fast-paced environment.
• Meets the needs of customers and effectively communicate dental terminology with the customer and the dental team.
• Effectively interacts in a professional & courteous manner with supervisor and other employees to facilitate the accomplishment of the work of the organization.
• Experience in all areas of dentistry including; General Periodontics Prosthodontics Endodontics and other areas if called to perform.