Duties

• Perform chairside duties assisting in all phases of dentistry from the preliminary screening examination to local anesthetic administration.
• Take preliminary impressions, bite registrations, modifies impression trays, fabricates custom trays, pours and trims casts.
• Apply prescribed medications to gingival tissues in cases of excessive bleeding.
• Ensure that the clinic environment is clean, safe and orderly.
• Perform all administrative tasks to include entering demographic data into automated systems.
• Operate dental X-ray equipment to take intra and extra-oral radiographs.
• Assist the dentist chair side and in all phases of prosthetic dentistry, including full dentures, partial dentures, fixed bridges and crowns.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• A Personnel Security Investigation is required.
• This position may have specific initial background investigation and periodic re-verification requirements since its duties may require interaction with children and youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age on a recurring basis.
• Selectees may be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations or must provide a recognized exemption.
• This position is a Testing Designated Position subject to pre-employment screening and random drug testing. Selectees will be required to consent to participation in random drug urinalysis testing.
• A pre-placement medical examination may be required.
• Immunization screening may be required. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position.
• May be required to obtain and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Red Cross. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
• This position may include shift work (evenings, weekends, holidays).
• This position may require rotating shifts (i.e. work schedule that requires employees to continuously rotate from one shift to another at predetermined intervals).
• This position may require the incumbent to work during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or varying work schedules.
• This position may require the incumbent to work on call during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or varying work schedules.
• This position may require the incumbent to work weekends and/or holidays.
• Moderate to heavy lifting may be required.
• This position may require the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance or access for the duration of employment. A background investigation and credit check would be required.
• This position may require the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Tier 3 security investigation or access for the duration of employment. A background investigation and credit check would be required.
• Additional requirements may be determined as positions arise and will be communicated during the hiring process if you are selected.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document .

Basic Requirement for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function):

Education: Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) positions must have completed one-year of acceptable course work, preceptorship, or other formal training and/or work assignments specifically designed to equip them with knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures involved in the position to be filled. Examples of acceptable training are:

(1) Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that are directly related to the intra-oral procedures (also referred to as expanded functions) that are to be performed in the position to be filled.

(2) U.S. Army's Dental Therapy Assistant Training Program.

(3) Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(4) Other training comparable to the above in private or governmental hospitals, clinics, or schools that included formal classroom instruction and clinical training in the knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures in the position to be filled.

Note: You must attach proof of completing the educational requirement with your application package. Proof may include school transcripts, course completion certificates, etc.

Radiology Certification : Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer Radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (1) have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and (2) be certified as radiographers in their field. The following meet these requirements:

(1) Persons employed by the Federal Government as Radiologic personnel prior to the effective date of the regulation (January 13, 1986) who show evidence of current or fully satisfactory performance or certification of such from a licensed practitioner such as a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic who prescribes Radiologic procedures to others.

(2) Persons first employed by the Federal Government as Radiologic personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation, or (b) practiced in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not license that particular field or did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program, provided such persons show evidence of training, experience, and competence, as determined by OPM or the employing agency.

Note: You must attach proof of completing the Radiologic requirement with your application package. Proof may include school transcripts, course completion certificates, certification, etc.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience : One year of specialized experience which includes providing chair-side dental assistance expanded function duties to include placing composite or amalgam filling, fabrication of temporary crowns and performing administrative functions within a dental environment. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service, (GS-05).

OR

Education: A half year (i.e., 9 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Dentistry. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 9. Add the two percentages. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• Permanent Positions: Two year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Term Positions: One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Term Positions: A term position is time-limited and may be extended to a maximum of eight years.
• Temp Positions: A temporary position is time limited and may be extended in one year increments to a maximum of three years and may be terminated at any time during the duration of the appointment.
• Intermittent Positions: This position does not provide guaranteed work hours each week, and work will be assigned on an intermittent "as needed basis." This position will NOT lead to a full-time position. Intermittent employees are NOT eligible for benefits (Health and Life Insurance) (Annual and Sick Leave).
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Position may require employee to wear a uniform and/or protective clothing.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Position may be Obligated. An obligated position is one to which an employee has statutory restoration rights based on active military service, compensable injury or disability when fully recovered, return rights based on having served an overseas tour(s), and may also cover employees who have been on extended leave without pay under certain circumstances. During the obligation period, the position may be filled on a temporary or permanent basis. The selected employee is required to sign an agreement acknowledging that (s)he is aware of the obligation and accepts the fact that (s)he may be displaced under reduction in force procedures at a later time.
• Position may be Inclement Weather Essential. The incumbent must make every attempt to report for work on time and/or remain on duty during severe weather conditions.
• Position may be Emergency Essential. You may be required as a condition of employment to take the series of anthrax vaccine immunizations to include annual boosters. May include other immunizations that may be required for this position/for a position you may fill as an emergency essential alternate. Failure to take immunizations may lead to your removal from position or separation from Federal service.
• Position may be Key. For positions located within the Continental US (CONUS), the position cannot be vacated during war or national emergency without seriously impairing the mission.
• Position may be Mission Essential. The incumbent will be required to report to work during times of contingency operations, natural disasters, extreme weather or other emergency situations.
• If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• Information may be requested regarding the vaccination status of selectees for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols. For more information, visit https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/ .