Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration•Seattle, WA

17d•Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Assistant position has three vacancies at the Seattle VA Medical Center and one vacancy at the American Lake VA Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. The selected applicant may be appointed at GS-03 through GS-06; GS-06 is the full performance level. Work is scheduled Monday through Friday, with variable site hours: 0700–1530 at American Lake or 0730–1600 in Seattle. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The Dental Assistant prepares and turns over dental operatories or surgery suites, records vital signs, supports dental procedures, and maintains infection-control practices and dental equipment. The role assists with routine and specialized dental procedures, with guidance from more experienced Dental Assistants for specialty work. Basic qualifications can be met through experience, qualifying dental-assistant education, or a combination, along with applicable radiologic-competence certification provisions. Grade-level requirements vary and include additional experience or education and knowledge, skills, and abilities. Applicants must meet the stated citizenship and English proficiency requirements and complete pre-employment screening and onboarding. A one- or two-year trial period is required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Meet the basic experience and education requirement through six months of qualifying experience, a one-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
Meet an applicable provision for certification of radiologic competence, such as completion of an accepted dental radiation health and safety examination or course, or qualify for a temporary graduate dental assistant appointment where permitted.
For GS-04, meet the stated GS-04 experience or education pathway and demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
For GS-05, meet the GS-04 requirements plus the stated GS-05 experience or education pathway and demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
For GS-06, have at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-05 and demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
Complete required background/security investigation, online onboarding, and application documentation.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period.
Meet any applicable Selective Service registration requirement for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

Certification in basic life support methods.
Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB); DANB certification is highly desirable through the full performance level.

Responsibilities

Set up operatories and/or surgery suites for planned dental procedures and clean dental units for timely turnover.
Obtain and record vital signs in the medical record.
Pass instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
Keep the operative field clear of debris and retract oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials according to manufacturers’ instructions.
Perform intra-operative procedures within standard infection-control protocols.
Assist with routine general dental procedures using four-handed dentistry concepts.
Assist, with guidance from more experienced Dental Assistants, with specialized procedures including oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and implant placement and restoration.
Maintain routine and specialty dental equipment according to manufacturers’ instructions and dental service standards.