Dental Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

McClellan Place (CA)

On-site

USD 40,000 - 52,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Dental Assistant to support dentists in a VA facility. You will prepare operatory, pass instruments, assist in general and specialized procedures, and maintain infection control protocols.

This role emphasizes teamwork, patient communication, and adherence to time-out and medication reconciliation processes. It requires careful charting and use of the Dental Record Manager system in a fast-paced clinical setting at the McClellan location.

Qualifications

Transcript must be submitted with your application if qualifications are based on education.
Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be used to qualify for Federal employment.
Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript for credit.

Responsibilities

Prepares operatory and surgery suite for planned procedures and ensures turnover.
Passes instruments safely and efficiently while maintaining a clear operative field.
Assists in general and specialized dental procedures, following infection control protocols.
Performs documentation in the Dental Record Manager and supports patient management.

Job description

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties and clerical functions, with indirect supervision from the dentist or supervisor. Duties will be performed in the VA NCHCS facilities.

Key Responsibilities

Duties include, but are not limited to: Prepares the operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit ??????for timely turnover, ensuring all needed equipment, materials, and supplies for planned dental procedure(s) are prepared prior to seating the patient. 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. Complies with patient identification requirements. Compliant with meeting their role in the Medication Reconciliation Process.

Compliant with meeting their role in the Time-Out process. Compliant with meeting their role in the IMED consent process. Compliant with infection control protocols in all aspects of the care process. Follows standard operating procedures for all reusable medical equipment (RME) in use in the dental clinical area. Keeps patients informed of clinic delays.

Directly communicates with patients when treatment will not commence within 20-minutes of the patient's scheduled appointment time. Provides patient with an anticipated time that the patient will be seen, asks the patient if that time is acceptable or if the patient desires to reschedule. Charts initial findings, initial existing conditions, and treatment plans in Dental Record Manager as appropriate.

Completes electronic return to clinic orders using the Computerized Patient Record System. Work Schedule: Intermittent Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 11041-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements & Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $29.04 – $37.76/hr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-12.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.