Summary

The Dental Laboratory Technician position is located at the John D Dingell VA Medical Center Detroit - MI - a Level 1b Complexity VHA Facility - in the Dental Service. The position is responsible for technical work in the fabrication and repair of dental prosthetic appliances on prescription of a dentist. This work requires a technical knowledge of dental anatomy and skill in the use of dental laboratory materials and equipment.

Qualifications

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. ~AND~ To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level - applicants must meet one of the following: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience - equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-8) in the Federal Service - that has given you the particular knowledge - skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Dental Laboratory Technician - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Experience should include use of dental laboratory material such as impression materials - plasters - stones - hydrocolloids - waxes - metals - acrylics - porcelain - and similar materials; use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools - dental lathes - engines - and hand pieces - furnaces - casting machines - presses - flasks - and related equipment; use of precision instruments such as articulators - surveyors - and microanalyzers; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances. At this grade level - qualifying specialized experience also includes: experience constructing porcelain or acrylic fixed or semi-fixed bridge restorations - full or removable partial dentures - or orthodontic appliances - or dental splints and obturators - when the construction of the appliance is complicated because of the unusual nature or intricacy of the design required to overcome acute abnormalities; applying a thorough technical knowledge of both normal and abnormal oral anatomy and dentition as these affect the design - fabrication - function - and esthetics of the dental prosthesis being constructed. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Successful completion of two (2) full years of graduate education or a master's degree that is directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position. Such graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Licensed professional dentists will be considered qualified for any grade level if they have - in the aggregate - the required experience in dental laboratory procedures. Transcripts (official or unofficial)must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience - as described above. NOTE: Transcripts (official or unofficial) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include - but are not limited to - the following: Collaborates with Oral Surgeon - Prosthodontist - or other Dentists to design and fabricate complex dental or intra-oral maxillofacial appliances - this involves (1) working with these specialists in developing the design of the appliance - (2) personally fabricating - or overseeing the fabrication of the appliance - and (3) resolving problems in its fabrication Functions may include but not limited to pouring primary and final impressions
• Trimming
• fabricating custom trays
• fabricating bite rims
• mounting casts on articulators
• setting teeth for trial dentures/partials
• investing/flasking
• blocking out
• processing and finishing dentures/ partials
• fabrication of night guards/bite splints
• fabrication of provisional prostheses
• repairing broken prostheses
• adding teeth to existing prosthesis
• pouring - pinning - and sectioning dies required for crown and bridgework
• fabricating fluoride trays
• fabricating stints
• fabricating transitional partials
• managing implant fabrication process for fixed and removable appliances
• fabricating wrought wire clasps - fabricating reinforcement wires/bars
• fabrication of crown and bridgework
• waxing
• investing
• casting
• soldering
• stacking
• contouring porcelain
• staining
• finishing
• polishing in metal - acrylic - and porcelain Tracks and monitors of laboratory cases while they proceed through the different fabrication steps within the laboratory which may also involve shipping and receiving fixed/removable prosthesis for fabrication Independently performs all necessary steps for the fabrication of dental and other intraoral prosthodontic appliances Provides education - training - and/or instruction to the dental assistants - dental resident program dentists and staff dentists using teaching models of various dental appliances and oral presentations regarding laboratory procedures - capabilities - and requirements Conducts research and material testing for new and replacement efficiency and usefulness of new equipment Applies thorough knowledge of tooth morphology - normal and abnormal oral anatomy - and the principles of occlusion
• and will know how to integrate this knowledge into the design - functional and esthetic requirements of the prosthodontic products s/he fashions Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved