Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Hot Springs, SD

16h • Onsite

About The Position

This Dental Assistant position is with the VA Black Hills Health Care System at the Fort Meade, South Dakota location. The incumbent assists the dentist with direct patient care and clerical functions, working independently of direct supervision. The full-performance level is GS-06; selection may be at GS-03 through GS-06.

The role supports routine and specialized dental procedures, including oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, and surgical periodontics. It includes preparing and turning over treatment areas, handling instruments and materials, obtaining dental images, monitoring patients, maintaining records and supplies, and providing patient education. The position also performs dental laboratory and administrative tasks.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation assistance and recruitment or relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• At least 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 CODA; equivalent combinations of education and experience may qualify.
• Radiologic competence certification through one of the accepted routes: the Dental Assisting National Board Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination; the VA Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry’s Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations; or a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense.
• For GS-4, in addition to basic requirements: one year of experience at the next lower level, or two years of post-high-school education that includes completion of a CODA-accredited dental assistant program; candidates must demonstrate basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling, dental procedures and medical emergencies, basic radiographic image capture and processing or retrieval, dental equipment maintenance and storage, and patient privacy requirements.
• For GS-5, in addition to the GS-4 requirements: at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade demonstrating the core competencies, or completion of a full four-year course of study that included or was supplemented by a CODA-accredited dental assistant program; candidates must demonstrate knowledge of anatomy and diagnostic image quality, common medical emergencies and vital-sign measurement, instruments and standardized dental procedures, ability to learn and use VHA software, and basic communication skills for protocol-based patient instructions.
• For GS-6, at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-5 demonstrating the core competencies, plus ability to identify normal oral anatomy; advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized procedures across restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care; ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs; independently provide procedure-specific patient education and refer patient concerns appropriately; capture standard and special diagnostic-quality dental images; maintain dental equipment; use electronic dental records; and perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.
• Successful applicants must meet the requirements for the grade at which they are selected.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Must undergo a background and security investigation, complete online onboarding and required application documentation, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period and receive written certification of continued employment before the period ends.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency and transcript.
• Only current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the applicable criteria may qualify under the grandfathering provision.

Nice To Haves

• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is highly desirable, though not required.

Responsibilities

• Show courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude toward patients, coworkers, and the public.
• Set up the operatory or surgery suite for planned procedures and clean the dental unit 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 reusable medical equipment requirements.
• Assist with routine general dentistry and specialized procedures, including oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, and surgical periodontics.
• Capture and orient diagnostic-quality dental images using appropriate safety techniques while minimizing retakes.
• Assist patients with scheduling and fill schedule gaps caused by late cancellations and missed appointments.
• Assist the dentist with recording findings and treatment plans in patient records.
• Perform timekeeping, dental supply clerk, and local administrative assistant duties.
• Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA requirements.
• Monitor patient condition and vital signs during treatment and watch for signs of physical distress.
• Pour impressions and prepare study models; make final denture impression trays and prepare bite rims.
• Remove sutures and periodontal surgical dressings; take impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication.
• Remove temporary crowns or bridges and clean tooth preparations; recement and fabricate temporary crowns.
• Perform coronal polishing and place rubber dams and matrix bands.
• Provide postoperative and other appropriate patient education.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave related to the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may qualify after 60 days for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a 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