Dental Assistant (EF)

The Indian Health Service; Tohatchi (NM); On-site; USD 37,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Indian Health Service's Tohatchi Service Unit is seeking a Dental Assistant to support the dental team by performing chairside duties and assisting with restorative procedures. This full-time federal position offers a competitive pay range and opportunities in a public health setting serving Native communities. Applicants should submit transcripts and may need a REAL ID by 2025. The posted pay range is $36,804–$59,671 per year and the agency is part of DHHS.

Qualifications

• Transcript or list of courses with titles, credits and grades encouraged
• Official transcripts required prior to offer
• Transcripts from schools accredited by US ED may be credited

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and complex restorative procedures, including crowns, pin-retained restorations, cusp builds, and multi-surface replacements
• Provide comprehensive chairside assistance and perform radiographs, prophylaxis, fluoride, sealants, and related procedures
• Perform dental laboratory and clinical support, including model prep, trays, bite rims, sterilization, and infection-control activities
• Educate patients and participate in oral-health education and community outreach activities

Skills

Chairside dental assisting

Radiographs

Infection control

Education

Job description

• Department: Department of Health and Human Services

The position is located at Tohatchi Service Unit within the Indian Health Service (IHS). The purpose of this full performance position is to support the dental team by performing dental assistant duties. This position allows the dental team to smoothly function and better serve the intended population. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Key Responsibilities

Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Dental Assistant Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov) Performs routine and complex restorative procedures, including placement, carving, and polishing of alloy/composite restorations, pin-retained restorations, cusp build-ups, and multi-surface or angle replacements.

Selects, adapts, seats, and cements stainless-steel crowns; fabricates and places temporary crowns and bridges; and performs other assigned reversible intra-oral procedures. Provides comprehensive chairside assistance by anticipating the dentist's needs and performs radiographs, oral prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, sealants, calculus removal, impressions, and related procedures.

Performs dental laboratory and clinical support procedures, including model preparation, custom trays, bite rims, cast mounting, instrument sterilization, equipment upkeep, supply management, and infection-control activities. Provides patient education and post-treatment instructions and participates in oral-health education, quality assurance/quality improvement, and community outreach activities.

Requirements & Education

You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited.

Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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 https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $36804 – $59671/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Other security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-20.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.