Dental Assistant

Indian Health Service • Camp Verde, AZ

5d • Onsite

About The Position

At the Indian Health Service, Dental Assistants do more than support oral care. Guided by our mission to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you will help deliver safe and effective dental services while creating healthy smiles, restoring confidence, and promoting overall wellness in the communities we serve. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Requirements

• Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
• ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Background Investigation Requirement: This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.
• Financial Suitability Requirement: This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination.
• Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.
• GS-02: 3 months of general experience. General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation; such as customer service, record-keeping, and clinic maintenance duties. OR high school graduate or equivalent.
• GS-03: 6 months of general experience. General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation; such as customer service, record-keeping, and clinic maintenance duties. OR Successful completion of (a) a 1-year dental assistant program or completion of 1 year of a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included a course in radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting; or (b) practical nurse training approved by the appropriate State, territory, or District of Columbia accrediting body.
• GS-04: 6 months of general experience. General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation; such as customer service, record-keeping, and clinic maintenance duties; AND at least 6 months of specialized experience. Specialized experience for GS-4 is providing chairside assistance, setting up proper instruments for dental procedures, recording treatments rendered, and exposing and processing digital oral x-rays. OR Successful completion of a 2-year dental assistant program or completion of a 2-year dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included at least 12 semester hours of courses such as those shown above for GS-3.
• Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

Nice To Haves

• Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

Responsibilities

• Assist the dentist in all phases of restorative and surgical procedures.
• Maintain aseptic technique and sterilize instruments.
• Expose and process dental radiographs following radiation-safety protocols.
• Educate patients on oral hygiene and post-treatment care.
• Support dental clinic operations, maintain supplies, and manage patient records.

Benefits

• Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Dental Assistant Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)
• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.
• IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED