Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Mare Island Naval Shipyard, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Assistant supports dentists in direct patient care, performing a full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties and clerical functions under indirect supervision from a dentist or supervisor. Duties are performed at VA NCHCS facilities. The role includes preparing treatment areas and supplies, assisting with routine and specialized dental procedures, maintaining infection-control standards, and documenting patient information and orders in electronic systems.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The full performance level is GS-6.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Six months of experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or familiarity with it; alternatively, successful completion of a one-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation; equivalent combinations of education and experience also qualify.
• Radiologic competence certification through one of the listed qualifying examinations, courses, or programs. Eligible non-certified applicants may receive a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant, but must obtain certification within the required period.
• For the GS-6 full-performance level, at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade demonstrating the required competencies.
• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care.
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriately refer patient concerns to the treating dentist.
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
• Ability to maintain equipment used in routine and specialty dentistry.
• Ability to enter and retrieve data using electronic dental records.
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including a physical examination and, for testing-designated positions, urinalysis; undergo background/security investigation and complete onboarding.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in required seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccination programs, subject to legally required accommodations.
• Provide a transcript if education is used to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
• Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification is highly desirable, but not required through the full-performance level GS-6.
• One year of dental assisting experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare the operatory or surgery suite for planned procedures and clean the dental unit for timely turnover, ensuring necessary equipment, materials, and supplies are ready before the patient is seated.
• 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 standard infection-control protocols.
• Assist with routine general dental procedures and specialized procedures, including oral surgery, endodontics, and periodontics.
• Comply with patient identification requirements and assigned responsibilities in medication reconciliation, the Time-Out process, and the IMED consent process.
• Follow infection-control protocols throughout care and standard operating procedures for reusable medical equipment used in the dental clinical area.
• Keep patients informed of clinic delays and communicate directly when treatment will not begin within 20 minutes of the scheduled appointment; provide an anticipated wait time and ask whether the patient accepts it or wishes to reschedule.
• Chart initial findings, existing conditions, and treatment plans in Dental Record Manager as appropriate.
• Complete electronic return-to-clinic orders using the Computerized Patient Record System.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on the position and employment status.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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