Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant, GS-6 Level

The Dental Assistant, GS-6 level will assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and perform other clinical and clerical functions under direct supervision or with minimal supervision of the dentist, lead assistant, or supervisory assistant. Duties include but are not limited to :

• Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery.
• Sets up operatory and / or surgery suite 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, and periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration.
• Exposures both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, ceph, cone beam) in digital format.
• Modifies settings to achieve images 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.
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories.
• Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments.
• Initiates computerized progress note- Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records.

Work Schedule : 7 : 30am - 4 : 00pm. Monday to Friday, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

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

Functional Statement # : 00606F. 00607F. 00681F. 00609F.

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

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.

English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with Dental Assistant Qualification Standard.

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

OR 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 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 :

Dental Assistant GS-6 (Full Performance Level) :

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

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.

Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.

Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.

Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.

Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.

Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.

Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.

Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

Preferred Experience :

At least 3 years of dental assistant experience.

Completed a Dental Assistant certification program, Radiology certification.

Experience in various areas of Dentistry using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including restorative, oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement; anticipates surgeons / specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.

Expose and produce acceptable diagnostic digital radiographs.

Experience using electronic dental record.

Basic Life Support Certification.

Knowledge of and ability to manage medically compromised patients.

Reference :

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is 6.

Physical Requirements :

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment :

Work is performed in an office / clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.