Dental Assistant

US Indian Health Service; Camp Verde (AZ); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Indian Health Service is hiring Dental Assistants to support oral care and improve health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This role involves chairside assistance, setting up instruments, documenting treatments, and operating digital x-ray equipment in a clinical setting.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications GS-02/GS-04 with education in dental assisting or dental hygiene and radiology training; ensure resume details duties and hours, and note the Real ID requirement

Qualifications

• Experience or education in dental assisting and radiology is required.
• Must identify duties and hours clearly on the resume.
• Specialized radiologic credentialing standards apply.

Responsibilities

• Provide chairside assistance during dental procedures.
• Set up instruments and materials for procedures.
• Record treatments rendered in patient records.
• Expose and process digital oral x-rays.

Skills

Dental assisting

Customer service

Record-keeping

Clinic maintenance

X-ray exposure

Education

Dental assistant program

Dental hygiene program (1 year)

Practical nurse training

Job description

At the Indian Health Service, Dental Assistants do more than support oral care. Guided by our mission to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you will help deliver safe and effective dental services while creating healthy smiles, restoring confidence, and promoting overall wellness in the communities we serve.

A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021). To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S)

Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR)

NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (l) 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
   1. 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
   2. 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.

All applicants, however, must meet the requirements below.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above)

Experience in dental assistance to general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position being filled.

Education and Training

For GS-3:

1. Successful completion of (a) a 1-year dental assistant program or completion of 1 year of a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included a course in radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting;
2. (b) practical nurse training approved by the appropriate State, territory, or District of Columbia accrediting body.

For GS-4: Successful completion of a 2-year dental assistant program or completion of a 2-year dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included at least 12 semester hours of courses such as radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting; or (b) a combination of experience and education.

If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

GS-02: Yourresume must demonstrate at least 3-months of general experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or a familiarity with customer service, record-keeping, and clinic maintenance duties; OR, high school graduate or equivalent.

GS-03: Your resume must demonstrate at least 6-months of general experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or a familiarity with customer service, record-keeping, and clinic maintenance duties; OR, Successfully completed (a) 1 year dental assistant program or completed 1 year of a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included a course in radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety and protection; x-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting; or (b) practical nurse training approved by the appropriate State or District of Columbia accrediting body; OR, A combination of experience and education.

GS-04: Your resume must demonstrate at least 6 months of general experience (described above) AND 6 months of specialized experience. Qualifying specialized experience is work providing dental assistance to general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position(s) being filled. Specialized experience includes: includes providing chairside assistance, setting up proper instruments for dental procedures, recording treatments rendered, and exposing and processing digital oral x-rays; OR, Successfully completed a 2-year dental assistant program or completion of a 2-year dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included at least 12 semester hours of courses such as radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety and protection; x-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting; OR, A combination of experience and education.

General Experience: (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cutoff day of rating to be eligible for consideration.