Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration James A. Haley VA Medical Center Summary James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, Florida is currently recruiting for a Dental Assistant. Dental Assistant performs a full range of duties with some independence in assignment, with direct and indirect supervision from the Lead Dental Assistant or treating Dentist. Examples of procedures may be diagnostic, restorative and/or surgical in nature. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.Clarification from the agency This vacancy announcement is open to US Citizens. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Haley VA Medical Center Dental Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Dental Assistant. Our ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. The Dental Assistant provides quality patient care in collaboration with other health care professionals. Assistsdentist with direct patient care Performs clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision Customer Service Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, and provides service recovery Chairside Assisting Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite 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 tissues effectively and comfortably Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturers instructions Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement, and restoration Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturers instructions and dental service standards Dental Imaging 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 Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination Prepares instruments properly for transfer to SPD for sterilization Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment Works closely with SPD to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed Clerical Functions Assists in filling gaps in the doctors schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records Initiates computerized progress note Information Management Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA compliance with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations Patient Safety 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 Joint Commission 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 Dental Laboratory Functions Pours impressions and prepares study models Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow Direct Patient Care Monitors patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site Applies topical fluoride Makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs). Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Telework : Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement # : 70192F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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; 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. 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 in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Associations Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 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. 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). 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.Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. 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. Example of experience included : responds to basic medical emergencies; 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 four- handed dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures; mixes basic dental materials; assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms; exposes and processes basic dental radiographs; mounts and labels dental radiographs. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures. 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. 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. 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 applicants 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 . Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Your application, resume, C.V., Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., spiritual; community; student; Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members : Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Required Documents To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted Resume document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the Other document upload field. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50s (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the Other document upload field. Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Completion of Radiation Health and Safety Program Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: How to Apply All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/17/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. Agency contact information Terrence Clark Phone View phone number on click.appcast.io Email TERRENCEE.GOV Address James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US Next steps Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. Veterans Health Administration OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincolns promise "To care for those who have served in our nations military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans? The VA Tampa Healthcare System provides you with outstanding health care, trains Americas future health care providers, and conducts important medical research. We provide you with health care services at 20 locations in central Florida. Facilities include our James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa and 16 community-based outpatient clinics in Brooksville, Hidden River (Tampa), Lakeland, Lecanto, New Port Richey, South Hillsborough (Riverview), and Zephyrhills. We also maintain 2 mobile clinics for Veterans who cant easily visit one of our facilities, and we offer a domiciliary in Tampa for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The VA Tampa Healthcare System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the VA Sunshine Health Care Network. Were an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 (VISN 8), which includes medical centers and clinics in Florida, Georgia, and the Caribbean. Agency contact information Terrence Clark Phone View phone number on click.appcast.io Email TERRENCEE.GOV Address James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US Visit our careers page Learn more about what its like to work at Veterans Health Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.