Dental Assistant (EF)

Indian Health Service • Inscription House, AZ

16d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) position is located at the Kayenta Service Unit within the Indian Health Service. The role supports the dental team by performing dental assistant duties that help the team function smoothly and serve the intended population. The position performs routine and complex restorative procedures, including placement, carving, and polishing of alloy and composite restorations; pin-retained restorations; cusp build-ups; and multi-surface or angle replacements. It also involves selecting, adapting, seating, and cementing stainless-steel crowns; fabricating and placing temporary crowns and bridges; and performing other assigned reversible intra-oral procedures.

The Dental Assistant provides comprehensive chairside assistance, anticipates the dentist’s needs, and performs radiographs, oral prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, sealants, calculus removal, impressions, and related procedures. Additional work includes dental laboratory and clinical support, such as preparing models, making custom trays and bite rims, mounting casts, sterilizing instruments, maintaining equipment, managing supplies, and carrying out infection-control activities. The position also provides patient education and post-treatment instructions and participates in oral-health education, quality assurance and quality improvement, and community outreach activities.

The position has promotion potential to GS-6; promotion is discretionary and not guaranteed. Selectees whose duties require work at an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy, subject to any available exemption process. A REAL ID-compliant state-issued identification document or driver’s license is required beginning May 7, 2025.

Requirements

• Meet the applicable radiologic personnel education and certification standards in 42 CFR Part 75 when administering radiologic procedures.
• For GS-5 and above Expanded Function positions, complete one year of acceptable coursework, preceptorship, formal training, or work assignments designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed for the position’s intra-oral procedures.
• For GS-4, meet the stated general and specialized experience, education, or combined education-and-experience qualification pathways.
• For GS-5, meet the stated specialized experience, education, or combined education-and-experience qualification pathways; experience criteria include dental procedure assistance, patient care, and working with children under age four.
• For GS-6, meet the stated specialized experience, graduate education, or combined education-and-experience qualification pathways; experience criteria include simple prophylaxis and periodontal debridements and placing temporary fillings.
• Federal competitive-service Merit Promotion candidates must meet the applicable Time-In-Grade requirement; Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan.
• Meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Successfully pass E-Verify and a federal background investigation; complete required background investigation forms within five calendar days of issuance.
• Meet the stated financial suitability requirements, including responsibility for legal financial obligations.
• Present two valid forms of identification before appointment; any state-issued ID or driver’s license used must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Set up direct deposit.
• Applicants must submit qualifying education documentation as applicable; foreign education must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
• The position is designated under Public Law 101-630 and involves contact or control over Indian children; certain criminal convictions or pleas disqualify applicants.
• Selectees may be subject to a probationary period; ESEP appointees typically serve a two-year trial period.
• Complete the required immunization policy compliance for work at an IHS healthcare facility, subject to applicable exemptions.

Nice To Haves

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit transcripts or a list of courses with titles, credit hours, and grades; unofficial transcripts are accepted with the application, while official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and complex restorative procedures, including alloy and composite restorations, pin-retained restorations, cusp build-ups, and multi-surface or angle replacements.
• Select, adapt, seat, and cement stainless-steel crowns; fabricate and place temporary crowns and bridges; and perform other assigned reversible intra-oral procedures.
• Provide chairside assistance and anticipate the dentist’s needs.
• Perform radiographs, oral prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, sealants, calculus removal, impressions, and related procedures.
• Perform dental laboratory and clinical support tasks, including model preparation, custom trays, bite rims, cast mounting, instrument sterilization, equipment upkeep, supply management, and infection control.
• Provide patient education and post-treatment instructions.
• Participate in oral-health education, quality assurance and quality improvement, and community outreach activities.

Benefits

• IHS advertises an outstanding total compensation package; details are referenced on the IHS Dental Assistant Total Compensation page.
• Federal employees earn annual leave at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, based on years of federal service.
• IHS may credit newly appointed federal employees for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

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