Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

US Military Treatment Facilities under DHA; Portsmouth (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Dental Clinic is seeking a Dental Assistant (Expanded Functions) to support routine and advanced procedures in a busy clinical environment, Monday through Friday with an early shift.

Responsibilities include preparing patients, assisting dentists with intraoral procedures, operating radiographic equipment, maintaining records and equipment, and ensuring infection control and radiology certification compliance.

Qualifications

• Basic requirements include radiology credentialing and relevant training.
• Experience assisting dental specialists with intra-oral procedures.
• Combination of education and experience may qualify.

Responsibilities

• Assist dental specialists with intra-oral procedures.
• Maintain dental equipment.
• Operate dental x-ray equipment to take radiographs.
• Prepare patients and support treatment.
• Maintain patient records and ensure infection control.

Skills

Intra-oral procedures

Dental equipment maintenance

Radiographic operation

Education

Graduate-level dental education (9 sem. hrs toward master's)

Job description

About the Position

This position falls under the Defense Health Agency-Atlantic Network at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Dental Clinic, working in a clinical dental environment performing both routine and expanded function dental assistant duties, with responsibilities ranging from patient preparation and treatment support to radiographic work and record keeping, Monday - Friday 06:15 A.M. to 3:15 P.M.

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 Functions)

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.

AND

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.

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

Specialized Experience

1. Assisting dental specialists with intra‑oral procedures.
2. Maintaining dental equipment.
3. Operating dental x‑ray equipment to take radiographs on dental patients.

OR

Education

A half year (9 semester hours) of graduate‑level education progressing toward a master's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in Dental Hygiene, Dentistry, or related field of study. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts).

OR

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 your semester hours of graduate education by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).