Dental Assistant

USAJOBS - Job Announcement

Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Lock A locked padlock or https means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official secure websites.

MENU Sign in My jobs Profile Resumes & documents Search preferences Notifications Sign out My jobs Profile Resumes & documents Notifications Search preferences Sign out Events Help Center Search Back to results Apply

Dental Assistant Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Apply Print Save

Summary This job is open to Duties Requirements How you will be evaluated Required documents How to apply

Summary The Cincinnati VA Medical Center CVAMC is currently seeking Dental Assistants to join our team. Dental assistants at this level serve in dental assistant positions independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties while receiving general supervision.

This is an open continuous announcement to fill multiple vacancies in the Dental Services Department. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.

Overview Help Accepting applications Open & closing dates 02272026 to 06012026 Salary $53,116 to - $71,910 per year Pay scale & grade GS 6 Location 3 vacancies in the following location Cincinnati, OH Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Not required Relocation expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Excepted Promotion potential None Job family Series 0681 Dental Assistant Supervisory status No Security clearance Not Required Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive NSLow Risk Trust determination process Credentialing Suitability Fitness Financial disclosure No Bargaining unit status No Announcement number CBSR-12898547-26-RM Control number 859296500

Duties Dental Assistants perform assigned selected procedures. Some complex patient care procedures are performed under the direct or indirect supervision of more experienced dental assistants, independent dental care providers, dentists, dental specialists, or hygienists.

Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Assists dentists, dental specialists, and/or hygienists in direct patient care and performs other clinical laboratory and clerical/administrative functions as assigned with direct or indirect supervision.
• Sets up the dental treatment areas/surgical suite for planned dentalsurgical treatment procedures prior and during patient care encounters.
• Cleans and disinfects treatment areas following patient care to facilitate timely treatment area turnover.
• Escorts patients from the waiting area to the treatment area at the beginning of an appointment and from the treatment area to the waiting area following an appointment as needed.
• Passes instruments safely accurately and efficiently to facilitate safe efficient and effective patient care.
• Keeps the operative field clear of debris and retracts oral soft tissues effectively to facilitate comfortable patient care for respective patients.
• Stocks cleans and disinfects the dental treatment area.
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials in accordance with manufacturers instructions.
• Assists dental provider accomplish clinical exams radiographic exams and dental treatment in accordance with CDC. VI-IA VISN 10 Cincinnati VAMC facility and Dental Service infection control policies.

Competent in four-handed dentistry for general dental procedures. Competent to assist in specialty dental care, dental hygiene, periodontics, endodontics, prosthetics, implantology, surgery, and restorative and oral surgery. Competent in exposure of diagnostic quality standard and specialty radiographic images in traditional and/or digital formats.

Performs disinfection of non-critical items and environmental surfaces in accordance with CDC VHA VISN I 0 Cincinnati VA Medical Center facility and Dental Service policies.

Performs other clerical/administrative tasks as may be assigned on an as-needed basis.

Competently pours impressions prepares study models, and trims study models to meet the needs of the providers.

Fabricates custom impression trays to meet the needs of the providers.

Fabricates bite rims to meet the needs of the providers.

Performs other assigned laboratory duties as time and competency allows.

Interacts with patients in accord with standards for age-specific care including knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult and geriatric age groups.

Competent in patient assessment and the interpretation of data about the patients status in the dental treatment setting.

Possesses the ability to identify age-specific needs and under the direct supervision of the providers is able to provide appropriate care based on the age-related factors noted.

Works in a manner which demonstrates sensitivity to and accommodations for the special needs of all patients with respect to age, developmental requirements, and cultural diversity.

Work Schedule Compressed Tour Monday-Thursday 6:30am- 4:00pm Friday 6:30am-3:00pm every other Friday off. Compressed Flexible Available Telework Not Available Virtual This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement 92637-0.

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 probationary period. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel HCP.

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. Experience and Education. 1 Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicants ability to perform the work or provides familiarity with the work. OR 2 Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Associations Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 3 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.

1 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 Secretary for Health for Dentistry. c. Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

2 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 appointment. This will result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment.

3 Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.

4 Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB 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 level.

English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria.

Grade Determinations GS-6 Dental Assistant Full Performance Level.

a. Experience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:

1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care and procedures.
3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
5. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

Preferred Experience Dental