Dental Assistant (Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant)

Dental Assistant

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. The Dental Assistant receives and prepares patients for dental treatment and assists the Dentist at chairside, bedside or in the operating room.

Responsibilities Functions :

• Chairside Assisting
• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions
• Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed Dentistry
• Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration
• Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standard
• Monitors patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure
• Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site
• Applies topical fluoride
• Makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses
• Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
• Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education
• Suture Removal
• Re-cement and fabricate temporary crowns
• EFDA only
• Coronal polishing of teeth
• Place rubber dams
• Dental Laboratory Functions :
• Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims
• Fabricates occlusal guards and bleaching trays
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Dental Imaging :
• Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, ceph, cone beam) in digital formats
• Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider
• Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized
• Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame
• Shares comprehensive working knowledge of imaging techniques and provides instruction to others
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 7 : 00am - 5 : 00pm

Telework : Not Available. Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 000000

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements Conditions of Employment :

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959.

Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

You may be required to serve a probationary period.

Subject to background / security investigation.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.

Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.

Qualifications :

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification / licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements :

United States Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Experience and Education (1) Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.

OR, (2) Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)].

Experience / Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and 2 education are qualifying.

Certification. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75.

Grade Determinations :

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-7 :

Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Lead Dental Assistant.

At this level, dental assistants serve either as a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Lead Dental Assistant.

For all positions above the full performance level, duties must be assigned to the position at least 25% of the time.

Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant

1. Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs :

2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

a. Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions.

b. Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc).

Preferred Experience :

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Reference :

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https : / / www.va.gov / ohrm / QualificationStandards / .

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.