Dental Assistant

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Dental Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Health Administration

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Summary

This job is open to

Duties

Requirements

How you will be evaluated

Required documents

How to apply

Summary

The Dental Assistant position is located at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The incumbent at this level serve as a Dental Assistant at full performance for more routine patient care and perform some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or a dental supervisor.

Learn more about this agency

Summary

The Dental Assistant position is located at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The incumbent at this level serve as a Dental Assistant at full performance for more routine patient care and perform some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or a dental supervisor.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

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Accepting applications

Location 1 vacancy in the following location

Aspinwall PA 1 vacancy

No matching locations found.

Work site options Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No

Salary 36813 - 66999 per year

Pay scale & grade GS 3 - 6

Promotion potential 6

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Full-time

Travel Required Not required

Appointment type Permanent

Occupations and job series 0681 Dental Assistant

Supervisory status No

Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service

Represented by a union Yes

Drug test Yes

Security clearance Not Required

Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive NS Low Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type Credentialing

Suitability Fitness

Financial disclosure required No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number CBSZ-13100703-27-JD

Control number 890110300

This job is open to Help The public U.S. Citizens Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency Open to the Public

NOTE The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Duties

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The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily and direct contact at the site of work from the assigned supervisor. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to

• receiving and preparing patient for treatment including seating positioning chair placing napkin performing disinfection and sterilization procedures
• performing basic chair side assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist
• reporting medical emergencies to dentist
• preparing procedural trays armamentaria set-ups
• exposing and processing basic dental radiographs with direct supervision
• mounting and labeling dental radiographs andor saving digital images to the electronic medical record with direct supervision
• complying with standard recommendation for equipment maintenance
• retrieving all pertinent patient records prior to seating the dental patient
• directing patient to appropriate staff for the intent of scheduling visits.

GS 5 Staff dental assistants for routine dental procedures. Direct supervision is given for any complex patient procedures from more experienced dental assistants or the treating dentist. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to

• responds to basic medical emergencies
• measures and records vital signs provides pre- and post- operative instructions
• maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction suction irrigation drying placing and removing cotton rolls
• using the concepts of four- handed dentistry assists with basic restorative procedures
• mixes basic dental materials
• assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms
• applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses
• exposes and processes basic dental radiographs
• mounts and labels dental radiographs andor saves digital imaging to electronic medical records
• evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality
• maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards.

GS-6 Dental Assistant Full Performance Level the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to

• using the concepts of four-handed dentistry
• assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery periodontal therapy endodontic prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration
• anticipates provider needs at each stage of treatment
• takes preliminary impressions
• selects and manipulates a variety of impression materials and cements
• pours trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts

Work Schedule 800am-430

Compressed Flexible Not Authorized

Telework Not Authorized

Virtual This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement GS-0681-4-5-6

Recruitment Incentives Authorized

Permanent Change of Station PCS Not Authorized

Requirements

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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 12311959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to backgroundsecurity investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements httpswww.uscis.govi-9-centralform-i-9-acceptable-documents. Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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 evaluationexamination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel HCP.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:
• your performance and conduct
• the needs and interests of the agency
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certificationlicensure 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

Experience and Education

• Six months experience that demonstrates the applicants ability to perform the work or provides familiarity with the work. OR
• Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Associations Commission on Dental Accreditation CODA OR
• ExperienceEducation 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. Essentially 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 field. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence a Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board Inc. OR b Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under