Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

Duties
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• Preparing treatment room for procedures, ensuring equipment meets all cleanliness standards.
• Observe patient safety standards during all dental treatment.
• Anticipate the needs of the dentist to assure all instruments and materials are available prior to each appointment.
• Perform supra-gingival stain and calculus removal and scales teeth in accordance with accepted practices and procedures outlined by the dental treatment facility.
• Properly place amalgam, condenses and carves the dental material to reflect the original anatomy of the tooth; those teeth not requiring pins or cusp replacement.
• Follow required infection control guidelines.
• Demonstrate proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatory.
• Appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during patient care and adhere to 'hand hygiene' guidelines.
• Ensure clinic environment is clean, safe and orderly.
• Perform administrative tasks, including entering demographic data into automated systems.
• Operate dental X-ray equipment to take intra and extra-oral radiographs.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires 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 are required.
• This position has specific initial background investigation and periodic re-verification requirements since its duties require interaction with children and youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age on a recurring basis.
• This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to applicant testing and random drug testing.
• This position has mandatory seasonal Influenza vaccination requirements and is subject to annual seasonal Influenza vaccinations unless otherwise exempted for medical or religious reasons (documentation of exemption must be provided upon hire).
• 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.
• Annual Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) screening is mandatory.
• Heptavax vaccination series and Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination are required.
• A pre-placement medical examination is required. Lifting up to 30 pounds may be required.
• This position requires that you obtain and maintain a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from, or in accordance with, the American Heart Association and American Red Cross. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
• Must be certified as a radiographer and have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in 42 CFR Part 75.
• The incumbent may be required to work on any day or shift, including night, weekends, holidays, or on an "on call" basis, necessary to meet mission requirements.

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 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.

In addition to meeting the above, applicants must also meet the following:

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ .

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.
• 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 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.