Summary

This Dental Assistant position is in Dental services at the VA Maine Healthcare Systems - located at the Portland and Togus locations.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/09/2025.

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: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work - or provides familiarity with the work
• OR - Education: Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• Experience/Education 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
• OR - (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
• GS-6 Grade Determination Experience
• At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants for routine dental procedures
• 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
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: Ability to identify normal oral anatomy
• Advanced knowledge of instruments - materials - and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative - surgical - endodontic and periodontal care and procedures
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• The purpose of this position is to serve as a Dental Assistant at a VA Maine Healthcare Systems
• The incumbent is responsible for performing a full range of duties and perform assigned selected procedures while assisting with specialty procedures such as oral surgery - periodontal therapy - endodontic - prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration
• Work is performed with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant - dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist
• Duties may include - but are not limited to: Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry
• Passes instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials
• Monitors - and performs basic interpretation of - patient vital signs (BP - pulse - pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure
• Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site
• Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims
• Removes plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses
• Provides procedure-specific - patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
• Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays
• Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer - instructions and dental-service standards
• Relays patient concerns to treating dentist
• Captures images characterized by diagnostic quality and accurately oriented and exposed
• Uses proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
• Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination
• Prepares instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization
• Adhere to Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as needed
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed: Available Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 402-F04414 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - higher or unique qualifications - or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 06/09/2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 17 - 2025 - with subsequent reviews every other week
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position
• This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.