Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until June 30, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 05/22/2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis or until positions are filled.

Customer Service - Shows courtesy, respect, and positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public. Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery.

Chairside Assisting - Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissue effectively and comfortably. 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. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics. Spends 25% of clinical time assisting the following: complicated periodontics such as periodontal surgery, complicated endodontic treatment, prosthodontic treatment, and oral surgery procedures.

Dental Imaging - Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes and minimized. Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame.

Direct Patient Care - Remove sutures. Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication. Remove temporary crown or bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris. Recement and fabricate temporary crowns. Coronal polishing of teeth. Place rubber dams and matrix bands. Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education.

Control and Equipment Sterilization - Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories. Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards. Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images.

Dental Lab Functions - Pours impressions and prepares study models if needed. Performs other laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow.

Clerical Functions - Assists patients in scheduling appointments. Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records.

Information Management - Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follows computer security regulations.

Patient Safety - Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position). Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients. Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.

Employee Education - Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.

Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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).

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday.

Compressed/Flexible: Authorized.

Telework: Not Authorized.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 54843-A.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.