Dental Assistant

SummaryThe Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is recruiting for one intermittent Dental Assistant to help care for our Veterans in Muskogee - Oklahoma - on a one year appointment. This is an open continuous announcement until September 25 - 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.QualificationsApplicants 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 RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Must be a US CitizenExperience and Education ExperienceSix months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work - or provides familiarity with the work - OR EducationSuccessful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)Experience/Education CombinationEquivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifyingCertificationPublic Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75Essentially - they must 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 be certified as radiographers in their fieldProvisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board - Inc. - OR Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry - OR Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD)Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C.7405 (a) (1) (D)Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointmentThis will result in removal from the GS-681 series and] may result in termination of employmentCertification in basic life support methods is highly desirableCertification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental AssistantsDANB certification is not required - but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level - and is required for all positions above the full performance levelEnglish Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written EnglishGrade DeterminationsIn addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidatesDental Assistant - GS-3 Experience or EducationNone beyond the basic requirementsDental Assistant - GS-4 Experience or EducationIn addition to the basic requirements - 1 year of experience at the next lower level - OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation (CODA)-AND-In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handlingBasic knowledge of dental procedures and [medical emergenciesAbility to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrievalBasic knowledge of maintenance - care and storage of dental equipmentBasic knowledge of patient privacy requirementsDental Assistant - GS-5 Experience or EducationIn addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above - applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level - OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA-AND-In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic qualityBroad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurementBasic knowledge of instruments - materials and standardized dental procedures Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHABasic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocolStaff Dental Assistant - GS-6 (Full Performance Level) ExperienceAt least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level-AND-In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: Ability to identify normal oral anatomyAdvanced knowledge of instruments - materials - and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative - surgical - endodontic and periodontal care and proceduresAbility to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signsAbility to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentistAbility to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formatsAbility to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistryAbility to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental recordsAbility to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedureReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.DutiesComplete all application requirements detailed in the \"Required Documents\" section of this announcementTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties provided below are for the full performance levelEmployees at the full performance level serve with the ability to perform the full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties - with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant - dental assistant supervisor or treating dentistThe level of supervision and independence in performing required duties will be dependent on the grade level selected and found qualified forIdentify normal oral anatomyRecognize instruments - materials - and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative - surgical - endodontic and periodontal care and proceduresMonitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signsIndependently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentistCapture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formatsPerform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistryEnter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental recordsPerform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory proceduresAssignments at the full performance level include - but are not limited to: Using the concepts of four-handed dentistryassists with specialty procedures including oral surgery - periodontal therapy - endodontic - prosthodontic and implant placement and restorationAnticipates dentists/surgeons/specialists' needs at each stage of treatmenttakes preliminary impressionsselects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxespours - trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic castsfabricates custom traysProvide dental assistant coverage at various Community Based Outpatient Clinics as neededWork Schedule: 7:00am-5:30pm - Intermittent - 0-40 hours per week Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 52816-A - 52817-A - 52818-A - 52819-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized