Dental Lab Technician

Veterans Health Administration•Ann Arbor, MI

21h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in Dental Service at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center in Michigan. The Dental Lab Technician functions as a fully qualified and experienced dental laboratory technician, providing advice regularly to staff dentists, dental students and residents, and dental staff. The role performs removable prosthodontic laboratory work to fabricate, repair, or refit complete dentures, removable partial dentures, and other dental appliances. The technician pours diagnostic and final dental impressions using a variety of materials; trims and prepares casts for clear communication of care to patients; and accurately articulates casts using bite records, record bases, and simple or semi-adjustable articulators. The technician also duplicates casts, fabricates bite rims and custom trays, sets denture teeth according to the treating dentist’s prescription, establishes prescribed occlusion, and waxes cases involving abnormal anatomy, residual ridge deficiencies, or skeletal malocclusions. The work includes processing and finishing complete and partial dentures, including complex cases. The position is permanent and is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. It is not eligible for telework or virtual work. A recruitment incentive and relocation assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
For GS-9 qualification through experience, one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-8, including relevant experience with dental laboratory materials, laboratory equipment, precision instruments, or construction of dental prosthetic appliances.
Alternatively, two full years of graduate education or a master’s degree related to the position; qualifying education must be supported by a transcript.
Alternatively, a combination of specialized experience and education beyond two full years of graduate education or a master’s degree.
Current federal employees who held a GS grade within the past 52 weeks must meet time-in-grade requirements, including 52 weeks at GS-8 for a GS-9 position.
Applicants claiming education must submit a transcript; foreign education must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
Applicants covered by the VA Interchange Agreement must have served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under that agreement.
Complete all required application steps, including an online assessment.
Selected applicants are subject to a background/security investigation, required onboarding, and pre-employment identification requirements.
Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
Serve a one-year probationary period.
Demonstrate knowledge of patient-safety reporting procedures.
Meet the position’s physical requirements, including sustained detail vision and dexterity; the work includes extended sitting, stooping, bending, regular lifting of heavy supplies, and brief work near high dry heat, hot steam, or unpleasant odors.

Responsibilities

Fabricate, repair, or refit complete dentures, removable partial dentures, and other dental appliances.
Pour diagnostic and final dental impressions using a variety of materials.
Trim dental casts properly and prepare them to communicate care to patients.
Accurately articulate dental casts using different bite records and record bases on simple and semi-adjustable articulators.
Duplicate casts to reproduce the detail and anatomy of the original.
Fabricate stable bite rims and custom trays for edentulous and partially edentulous ridges.
Set denture teeth for complete dentures and removable partial dentures according to the occlusal relationship prescribed by the treating dentist.
Set balanced, lingualized, and Monoplane denture occlusion according to the treating dentist’s prescription.
Wax cases involving abnormal anatomy, residual ridge deficiencies, and skeletal malocclusions.
Process and finish complete and partial dentures, including complex cases.
Promote a culture of patient safety, cooperate in efforts to improve safety and prevent potential events, and report events resulting in actual or potential patient injury.