Dental Assistant

Duties

• Perform inter-oral procedures as directed by dentist.
• Take preliminary impressions for study models.
• Remove sutures, place and remove rubber dams, perio-packs, matrix bands, and wedges.
• Relay dentist's instructions to patient for post?treatment care.
• Instruct patient in proper dental techniques, care of appliances, and causes of dental decay.
• Operate dental X-ray equipment to take intra and extra-oral radiographs.
• Retrieve digital images and/or develop and finishe film.
• Maintain, clean, and perform minor repairs on X-ray equipment and materials.
• Pour and trim model from impressions and construct custom impression trays.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Selectees will be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations or must provide a recognized exemption.
• A pre-placement medical examination is required.
• Immunization screening is 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.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Red Cross. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
• Moderate to heavy lifting up to 25 pounds is required.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience 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 GS-0681-05 Dental Assistant:

Radiology Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. The following meet these requirements:
(1) Persons who meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Successful completion of 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 are certified as a radiographer in their field.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) Persons that have successfully completed an educational program that included curriculum in dental radiography, but the program does not meet OR persons are unsure if it meets the credentialing standards of 42 CFR Part 75. NOTE: To meet this requirement, you will be asked to complete the alternate radiology certification form. If it is determined that your educational program does not meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75, you will be required to complete an alternative certification program, such as the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) or Introduction to Basic Concepts in Dental Radiology administered by the American Dental Assistant Association. Any fee for the alternative certification program will be the financial responsibility of the applicant and must be completed within two weeks of receipt of a tentative job offer.

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

Experience required: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as: performing intra-oral procedures, taking preliminary impressions, and operating dental x-ray equipment. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service GS-04.

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you may qualify if your education meets the definitions below:

Education: Successful completion of at least a full four-year course of study in a dental assistant or dental hygiene program that included at least 24 semester hours of courses in radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting.

OR

Combination of Experience and Education: 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 your semester hours of education beyond two years (total semester hours minus 60) by 60. Add the two percentages.

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.
• One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Position requires employee to wear a uniform and/or protective clothing.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• 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.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
• 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/ .