Dental Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Dental Assistant to provide chairside support across multiple specialties including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontics, and prosthodontics.

The role requires radiologic certification, CODA-accredited training, and the ability to work with a team under indirect supervision. Responsibilities include exposing diagnostic radiographs, assisting in implants and removable prosthodontics, and maintaining infection control and patient safety

Qualifications

• Candidate must be a United States citizen.
• Experience: six months in a dental assisting role or familiarity with dental assisting work.
• Education: completion of a CODA-accredited 1-year dental assistant program.
• Certification: radiologic competence per 42 CFR Part 75; radiography safety exams or approved equivalents.
• Basic life support certification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist with four-handed dentistry and prepare for a range of dental procedures.
• Expose and process dental radiographs with supervision and maintain radiology records.
• Assist in oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontics, prosthodontics and implants.
• Maintain infection control standards and prepare patient for treatment.
• Support in seating patients, instrument handling, and charting treatment plans.

Skills

Infection control

Radiographic imaging

Chairside assisting

Patient communication

Education

CODA-accredited dental assistant program

Job description

Summary

Performs a full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties - indirect supervision from lead dental assistant (DA) - DA supervisor or dentist. Using concepts of four-handed dentistry; assisting with specialty procedures including oral surgery - periodontal therapy - endodontic - prosthodontic & implant placement/restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects & manipulates a variety of gypsums & waxes.

Qualifications

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 applicant's 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 Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• (3) 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
• - Physical Requirements
• See above
• - English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a
• Grandfathering Provision: See Additional Information Section
• Preferred Experience: Experience in oral surgical procedures Proficient in impression making Excellent operative and prosthodontic assisting skills Has completed a Dental Assistant Certification program
• Able to expose and produce acceptable diagnostic radiographs
• Experience in various areas of Dentistry (Endo - Restorative - Oral Surgery - Implants - Periodontics - etc.)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-3. Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 (a) Experience or Education
• In addition to the basic requirements - 1 year of experience at the next lower level - OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities 1
• Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling
• 2
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies
• 3
• Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval
• 4
• Basic knowledge of maintenance - care and storage of dental equipment
• 5
• Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements
• (c) Assignment
• Receiving and preparing patient for treatment including seating - positioning chair - placing napkin - performing disinfection and sterilization procedures
• performing basic chair side assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist
• reporting medical emergencies to dentist
• preparing procedural trays/armamentaria set-ups
• exposing and processing basic dental radiographs with direct supervision
• mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or saving digital images to the electronic medical record with direct supervision
• complying with standard recommendation for equipment maintenance
• GS-5 (a) Experience or Education (1) In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above - applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• OR - (2) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA
• (3) In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) above - the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities 1
• Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality
• 2
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement
• 3
• Basic knowledge of instruments - materials and standardized dental procedures
• 4
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA
• 5
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol
• (c) Assignment
• 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
• mixes basic dental materials
• assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms
• applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses
• exposes and processes basic dental radiographs
• mounts and labels dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records
• evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality
• maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards
• GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• (b) 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
• (c) Assignment
• Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties
• Assignments at this level include: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry
• assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery - periodontal therapy - endodontic - prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration
• anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment
• takes preliminary impressions
• selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes
• pours - trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts
• fabricates custom trays
• Physical Requirements: See Additional Information Section
  

Duties

• This vacancy will remain open until filled
• The first cut-off date is 9/16/2026
• Additional applications will be referred as needed
• Once a selection has been made and accepted - this vacancy will close.
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Functions at the full-performance level include - but are not limited to: a
• Chairside Assisting Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover 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 per manufacturer's instructions Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols Assists in routine general dental procedures Assists in specialized dental procedures - such as oral surgery - endodontics - and periodontics b
• Dental Imaging Images are characterized by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized - and retakes are minimized Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame c
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images d
• Clerical Functions Orders and maintains equipment/supplies/medication required for patient treatment
• Assists in training new employees on use of the computer and trains other staff as needed Assists medical support assistant (MSA) and dental secretary when administrative assistance required Assists patients and other dental staff in scheduling appointments Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records Serves as facility meeting dental representative when primary staff unable to leave patient care area Serves as Service Inspection tour guide if/when dental staff unable to leave patient care area Annual custodial duty for Service Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) Maintains readily available and unexpired supplies in dental operatories - Dental Service supply room/Omnicell and remote sterile storage room e
• Information Management Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations f
• Patient Safety Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position) Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress g
• Employee Education Complies with Employee Education requirements Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions h
• Dental Laboratory Functions Pours impressions and prepares study models Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow i
• Direct Patient Care Remove sutures Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris Recement and fabricate temporary crowns Coronal polishing of teeth Place rubber dams and matrix bands Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education Work Schedule: 0700--1630 - Monday - Thursday
• 0700--1530 - Friday
• alternate Fridays off Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: Dental Assistant This is a bargaining unit position.