What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dental Assistant position at Veterans Health Administration?
This Dental Assistant position is in Dental services at the VA Maine Healthcare Systems, located at the Portland and Togus locations.
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.
(1) 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).
(2) 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.
(3) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
GS-6 Grade Determination
Experience. At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants for routine dental procedures. Assignments at this level 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 four- handed dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's:
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
Compressed:Available
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 402-F04414
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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).
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 06/09/2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 17, 2025, with subsequent reviews every other week. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.
Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/09/2025.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.
(1) 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).
(2) 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.
(3) Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
GS-6 Grade Determination
Experience. At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants for routine dental procedures. Assignments at this level 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 four- handed dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's:
- 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.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
Responsibilities:
The purpose of this position is to serve as a Dental Assistant at a VA Maine Healthcare Systems. The incumbent is responsible for performing a full range of duties and perform assigned selected procedures while assisting with specialty procedures such as oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration. Work is performed with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Duties may include, but are not limited to:- Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
- Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry.
- 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.
- Monitors, and performs basic interpretation of, 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.
- Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication.
- Pours impressions and prepares study models.
- Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims.
- Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses.
- Provides procedure-specific, patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction.
- Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays.
- Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer, instructions and dental-service standards.
- Relays patient concerns to treating dentist.
- Captures images characterized by diagnostic quality and accurately oriented and exposed.
- Uses proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories.
- Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination.
- Prepares instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization.
- Adhere to Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment.
- Performs other dental laboratory functions as needed.
Compressed:Available
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 402-F04414
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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).
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 06/09/2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 17, 2025, with subsequent reviews every other week. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.
- Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
- This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position.
- This position is in the Excepted Service.
- This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
- Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.
Salary : $44,959
