Dental Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 41,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO is seeking a Dental Assistant at the GS-6 level. Dental assistants assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and perform other clinical and clerical functions.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Qualifications

• Six months experience performing the work or related tasks.
• Successful completion of a CODA-accredited dental assistant program.
• Must meet radiologic credentialing standards per 42 CFR Part 75.

Responsibilities

• Assist dentist in direct patient care and clinical procedures.
• Perform clerical functions as needed.
• Maintain radiologic competency and safety requirements.
• Enter and retrieve data in electronic dental records.

Skills

Identify oral anatomy

Dental instruments & materials

Vital signs interpretation

Patient education

Dental imaging

Dental equipment maintenance

Electronic dental records

Dental lab procedures

Education

One-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program

Job description

This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT, applications will be accepted until 30Nov2026 or until vacancies are filled. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

This Dental Assistant position is located at the PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO. Dental assistants assist the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and perform other clinical and clerical functions. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS | GS-6

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates.

Experience and Education.

• Experience. Six (6) months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.

- OR -

• Education. Successful completion of a one (1) year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Certification (required).

• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. 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.

• Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.

- OR -

• 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 -

• Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

Note: 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.

Additional Certifications (not required but highly desirable).

• Certification in basic life support methods.
• 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 up to the GS-6 (full performance level.

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

Experience. At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

- AND-

Demonstrated KSA.

• 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]

Preferred Experience:

• One (1) year experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying, use of both hands, fingers, reaching above shoulders, walking, standing, sitting, depth perception, rapid mental and muscular coordination.