Dentist

Summary

The Albany Stratton VA Medical Center is currently looking for a full-time Dentist. This position is located in the Department of Dental, Dental Service, Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, and supports the Network 2 Mission to care for our Veterans with compassion and excellence. This position is responsible for providing direct patient care and dental as well as teaching and resident supervision within the Dentistry Section.

Help

Duties

Staff Dentist. An individual that demonstrates the ability in the field of general dentistry or a dental specialty who is employed to perform the duties related to various professional activities of patient care and treatment without supervision. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must demonstrate ability in the general practice of dentistry; be capable of assisting in maintaining accepted standards of professional care in VA facilities; and be capable of accepting full responsibility for the proper care and treatment of assigned patients.

As a Dentist you will provide direct dental care to qualified patients in an outpatient setting and serve as a consultant to other healthcare providers in accordance with VHA Office of Dentistry Standard of Care. The following list is not all inclusive, however providers should never exceed training or experience.

Preventive and Restorative Dentistry:

• Examination and diagnosis (Including Interpretation of radiographs)
• Preventive Interventions (Including but limited to Silver, Diamine Fluoride, Fluoride Varnish, Home oral hygiene education, Oral prophylaxis, Dental sealants)
• Restoration of decayed or fractured teeth utilizing appropriate restorative dental materials.
• Post & core and build-up.
  
  

Prosthodontics:

• Removable Prosthodontics (Including removable partial dentures including partial design, and full dentures)
• Fixed partial dentures and crowns.
• Implant supported fixed and removable dental prosthesis.
  
  

Periodontics:

• Non-Surgical Periodontics (to include Root Plaining and Scaling)
• Surgical Periodontics (to include osseous surgery and hard and soft tissue grafting interventions, crown lengthening based on individual clinical skill and experience)
  
  

Endodontics:

• Urgent Endodontics (Including pulp access and pulpal debridement)
• Endodontics treatment (Including definitive treatment of uncomplicated Anterior, Premolars, and molars based on individual clinical skill and experience)
  
  

Oral Surgery:

• Uncomplicated Exodontia (Including alveoloplasty)
• Uncomplicated Oral Surgery (single site bone grafting; pre-prosthetic surgery, simple biopsies, incision, and drain, alveoloplasty, gingivectomy, and crown lengthening)
  
  

Perform only those privileges for which approval has been granted by the Medical Center Director prospectively and in writing. Maintain own professional qualifications and attend mandated medical center training activities as required. You may be assigned administrative or managerial responsibilities through participation in clinical, educational, and administrative committees. Dental resident supervision including direct and indirect supervision, provide education, training, and mentoring. Other duties as assigned.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases

Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)

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)



Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)

Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided

Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting



Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

The following are requirements for appointment as a Dentist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Dentist 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.
• Education. Degree of doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine resulting from a course of education in dentistry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:
  
  

(1) United States and Canadian schools of dentistry listed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.

Preferred Experience: Completion of a CODA approved residency program in general practice or specialty, or comparable experience as a dentist actively involved in treating medically compromised patients.

• Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia as qualifying for full and unrestricted licensure provided the licensure requirements include a written examination measuring science achievement and a performance examination measuring clinical competence.
• Licensure and Registration: Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. The dentist must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.
• Residency Training: Completion of an approved residency program in general practice or specialty, or comparable experience as a dentist actively involved in treating medically compromised patients.
• English Language Proficiency: Dentists, appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
  
  

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-3 Dentist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.



Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties in a hospital setting under normal and emergent conditions. Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; use of fingers; both hands required; standing up to 1 hour per day; near/far vision correctable; hearing aid permitted. Environmental factors - working closely with others. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:

• Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
• Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted.
• For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.]
  
  
  
  

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

Additional information

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

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

Read more

• Help 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.
  
  

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. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.