Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

US Military Treatment Facilities under DHA; Oak Harbor (WA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor in Oak Harbor, WA, seeks a Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) to support dental procedures with chairside assistance, radiographic imaging, and patient record management. The role requires completion of approved training and certification in expanded functions and radiography, with eligibility for direct hire under federal guidelines.

Recruitment incentives may be authorized; relocation may be considered.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience providing chairside assistance to dentists during dental procedures.
• Experience operating dental radiographs to capture dental images.
• Maintain patient records and schedule appointments, plus inventory and supplies management.

Responsibilities

• Provide chairside assistance to dentists during a variety of dental procedures.
• Operate dental radiographic equipment to capture images.
• Maintain patient records and manage appointment scheduling.
• Monitor and order dental supplies as needed.

Skills

Chairside assistance

Radiographs operation

Recordkeeping

Appointment scheduling

Inventory management

Education

Dental Assistant certification

Graduate-level coursework related to dental work

Tools

Dental radiography equipment

Job description

About the Position

This position is located at the Naval Health Clinic in Oak Harbor, Washington.

A recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized. Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service. Non-Federal work experience may be creditable for leave purposes.

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

Education:

Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) positions must have completed one-year of acceptable course work, preceptorship, or other formal training and/or work assignments specifically designed to equip them with knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures involved in the position to be filled. Examples of acceptable training are:(1) Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that are directly related to the intra-oral procedures (also referred to as expanded functions) that are to be performed in the position to be filled.(2) U.S. Army's Dental Therapy Assistant Training Program.(3) Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.(4) Other training comparable to the above in private or governmental hospitals, clinics, or schools that included formal classroom instruction and clinical training in the knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures in the position to be filled.

Radiology Certification:

Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer Radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (1) 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 (a) 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 (b) 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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience

One year of specialized experience which includes providing chairside assistance to dentists during a variety of dental procedures, operating dental radiographs (X-rays) equipment to capture dental images, maintaining patient records, and scheduling appointments and/or keeping track of inventory and ordering supplies. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

Education

A half year (i.e., 9 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as such as Dental Assistant certification.

Combination of Education and Experience:

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 9. Add the two percentages.