Summary

Dental Assistants at this level serve as staff dental assistants at the full performance level for more routine patient care and performs some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor. The Dental Assistants assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

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 and Education (1) Experience
• Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides familiarity with the work
• OR - (2) Education
• Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)]
• (3) 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
• [(4) 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• 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)
• Grade Determinations:GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant 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 KSAs 1
• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.2
• Advanced knowledge of instruments - materials - and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative - surgical - endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.3
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.4
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.5
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digitalformats.6
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.7
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.8
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures(c) Assignment
• [Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties - with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant - dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist
• Assignments at this level include but are not limited to using the concepts of four-handed dentistry
• assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery - periodontal therapy - endodontic - prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration
• anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment
• takes preliminary impressions
• selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes
• pours - trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts
• fabricates custom trays
• References: 5005/46 Part II Appendix G36 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS06 Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying - use of both hands - fingers - reaching above shoulders - walking - standing - sitting - depth perception - rapid mental and muscular coordination.

Duties

• ***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 24 - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 02/06/2026
• 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
• Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include - but are not limited to: Customer Service - Shows Curtesy - 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 maxillofacial surgery - endodontics - and surgical periodontics 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
• Infection 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
• Clerical Functions - Assists patients is scheduling appointments - Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancelations 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 -Obtain and records patient vital signs: BP - pulse - and pulse oximeter at the beginning of the dental appointment
• 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 -Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Direct Patient care- Remove sutures and removal of periodontal surgical dressing -Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication -Remove temporary crown/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
• Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:00am - 3:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 53273-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required