Dental Assistant Jobs

About The Position

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.