Dental Assistant

Summary

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) is seeking a Staff Dental Assistant to work in the Dental Service. This position will be located in Houston, TX. Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants at the full performance level for more routine patient care and perform some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.

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Duties

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**Current permanent VA employees and Federal employees from other federal agencies should apply under CBST-12995470-26-KGM.**

The duties of the Dental Assistant in Dental Service include, but are not limited to:

• Responds to basic medical emergencies.
• Measures and records vital signs.
• Provides pre-and post-operative instructions.
• Maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls.
• Using the concepts of fourhanded dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures.
• Mixes basic dental materials.
• Assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms.
• Applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses.
• Exposes and processes basic dental radiographs.
• Mounts and labels dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records.
• Evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality.
• Maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards.
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression material per manufacturer's instructions.
• Works closely with the Lead Dental Assistants to comply with Employee Education requirements and complete all mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• 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.
• Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed.
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized.
• Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame.
• Shares comprehensive working knowledge of imaging techniques and provides instruction to others.
• Places contaminated instruments in bins for sterilization by SPS verifying the correct instruments are in each kit. In addition, must ensure all dental assistants are following proper protocol.
• Must disinfect all impressions and prostheses before taking them to the dental laboratory.
• Make accurate entries into the VistA or CPRS data base and Dental Record Manager Plus.
• Possess basic knowledge in all areas of dentistry including but not limited to, General Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontic, Endodontics, and other areas if called upon to perform these tasks in emergency situations.
• Places appropriate instruments and materials in the operatory for the identified procedure so there is no break in the treatment to retrieve something that was not available.
• Passes instruments according to the technique developed for dentist. In addition, keeps field clear for operation, free of debris, water and/or blood.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of a medical emergency and to provide the dentist with appropriate armamentaria at his/her requestor their own initiative. The recognizable dental emergencies or urgencies would include but not be limited to heart attack, choking on foreign bodies, syncope, vomiting or urination.

Work Schedule ( Subject to change based on the needs of the facility ) :

• Monday: 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.;
• Tuesday: OFF;
• Wednesday: 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.;
• Thursday 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.;
• Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.;
• Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.;
• Sunday: OFF.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.

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)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

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 # : 580-02282-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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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, 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.
• 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.

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

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.
• Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's 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 Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
• 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).
• 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 and is required for all positions above the full performance level.

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).

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.

Grade Determinations : GS-6, Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)

Experience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Chair-side Assisting: Knowledge of planned dental procedures. Ability to pass instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently (four-handed dentistry). Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within the standard infection control protocols.
• Dental Imaging: Independently exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e., TMJ, Ceph, Cone Beam) in traditional and/or digital formats. The dental assistant must take clinically acceptable x-rays. Knowledge of Nomad Portable X-ray Devices.
• Ability to correctly mount images correctly in CPRS/DRM Plus System within the desired timeframe and minimize retakes.
• Floater Dental Assistant: The ability to work independently with multiple providers daily in a fast-paced Environment.
• Customer Service: Meets the needs of customers and effectively communicates dental terminology with customer(s) and dental team(s). Effectively interacts in a professional & courteous manner with supervisor and other employees to facilitate the accomplishment of the work of the organization.
• Specialty Clinics: Must have working knowledge in all areas of dentistry including General, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Endodontics and other areas if called to perform.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06.

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.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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