Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Iowa City, IA

13h • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Assistant position is located at the Iowa City VA Medical Center. The incumbent assists dentists with direct patient care and independently performs other clinical and clerical functions. The full performance level is GS-06; applicants may be selected at GS-03 through GS-06. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position.

The Dental Assistant prepares and turns over operatories, safely passes instruments, maintains a clear operative field, prepares medicaments and impression materials, and follows infection-control and sterilization standards. The role supports routine general dentistry and specialty procedures, including oral surgery, endodontics, and periodontics. Duties also include dental imaging, patient scheduling and education, assisting with dental charting and treatment plans, initiating progress notes, monitoring patients during treatment, and maintaining HIPAA confidentiality.

Additional clinical and laboratory duties include pouring impressions and preparing study models, making final denture impression trays and bite rims, removing sutures and temporary crowns or bridges, taking impressions, recementing and fabricating temporary crowns, coronal polishing, and placing rubber dams and matrix bands. The position also includes complying with employee education requirements.

The role requires six months of relevant experience, completion of a one-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program, or an equivalent combination of experience and education, along with radiologic competence for radiologic procedures. Requirements vary by grade, with the full-performance GS-06 level requiring at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade and specified technical competencies. DANB certification is not required but is highly desirable. The position is subject to federal pre-employment, security, vaccination, onboarding, and trial-period requirements.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated limited exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Six months of experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or familiarity with it; or successful completion of a one-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Radiologic competence for administering radiologic procedures, demonstrated through one of the listed qualifying examinations, courses, or programs.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-04, qualifying experience or education in addition to basic requirements, plus knowledge of infection control, safe instrument handling, dental procedures, medical emergencies, radiographic image capture and processing or retrieval, dental equipment care, and patient privacy.
• For GS-05, qualifying experience or education in addition to GS-04 requirements, plus knowledge of anatomy and diagnostic image quality, common medical emergencies and vital-sign measurement, instruments and standardized dental procedures, ability to learn VHA software, and communication skills for providing protocol-based patient instructions.
• For GS-06, at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade, plus ability to identify normal oral anatomy; advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal procedures; ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs; ability to provide procedure-specific patient education and refer patient concerns to the treating dentist; ability to capture diagnostic-quality standard and special dental images; ability to maintain dental equipment; ability to use electronic dental records; and ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.
• Selected applicants must complete pre-employment requirements, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, onboarding, and required identification documentation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• A one- or two-year trial period is required, during which continued employment is evaluated.

Nice To Haves

• Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification.
• Completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program; new graduates are encouraged to apply.
• Experience assisting with general dentistry procedures such as restorative care, prosthodontics, oral surgery, or periodontal procedures; clinical rotations are acceptable.
• Familiarity with infection-control protocols and sterilization procedures.
• Experience with digital radiography and electronic dental records through coursework or clinical training.
• Strong communication and patient-care skills demonstrated in clinical or educational settings.
• CPR/BLS certification, or willingness to obtain it before onboarding.

Responsibilities

• Set up operatories for planned dental procedures and clean dental units for timely turnover.
• Pass instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently; keep the operative field clear and retract oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials according to manufacturers’ instructions.
• Perform intra-operative procedures in accordance with infection-control protocols and prepare instruments for sterilization to SPS standards.
• Assist with routine general dental procedures and specialized procedures, including oral surgery, endodontics, and periodontics.
• Capture dental images of diagnostic quality with accurate orientation and exposure, using imaging safety techniques and minimizing retakes.
• Assist patients with scheduling appointments and help fill schedule gaps caused by late cancellations and failed appointments.
• Assist the dentist in recording findings and treatment plans in patient records and initiate computerized progress notes.
• Maintain patient confidentiality in written and verbal communications in accordance with HIPAA.
• Monitor patients during treatment and watch for signs of physical distress.
• Pour impressions and prepare study models, final denture impression trays, and bite rims.
• Remove sutures and temporary crowns or bridges; clean tooth preparations, recement crowns, and fabricate temporary crowns.
• Take impressions for diagnostic casts, preliminary impressions, and prosthetic fabrication.
• Perform coronal polishing and place rubber dams and matrix bands.
• Provide post-operative and other appropriate patient education.
• Comply with employee education requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid leave per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility criteria.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed