Summary This position is located in the Mid-Atlantic Service Unit in Madison Heights, Virginia at the new Monacan Health Clinic, Division of Dental Health Services, under supervision of the Supervisor of Dental Services. The purpose of this position is to provide chairside assistance for the dentists on staff in restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgery, endodontic, pediatric and periodontal treatment along with other supportive services in the dental clinic. Responsibilities GS-04 and GS-05 Grade Level Dental Assistant: Performs chairside assistance in restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgery, endodontic, pediatric and periodontal treatment along with other supportive services. Greets and receives patients, follows departmental guidelines, maintains equipment, cleans and prepares dental mobile unit and department. Assists and records medical history of patient; when required routes patients for test and services. Schedule patients for treatment. Expose, process and mount intra and extra-oral radiographs. Other duties as assigned. GS-05 and GS-06 Grade Levels with Expanded Function (In addition to the duties listed above): Provides routine prophylaxis and topical fluoride treatments. Carving and polishing routine and complex alloy restorations. Takes preliminary impressions. Places and contours restorations, fabricates. Performs complex oral prophylaxis and applies topical fluoride treatments. Provides chair side assistance and other supportive services in the dental clinic and mobile health unit. Maintains supply levels and cleanliness of dental station, sterilizes instruments, materials and equipment. Records examination and treatment information as relayed by dentist. Instructs patient in preventive dental care; demonstrates brushing and flossing techniques and use of disclosing tablets; explains the common causes of decay and its relationship to general diet. Performs routine dental laboratory procedures. Restores teeth and performs other reversible intra-oral procedures. Requirements Conditions of Employment Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period. ESEP appointees typically serve a two-year trial period. U.S. Citizenship is required. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes. Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities. COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/. You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you. Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process. To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Individual Occupational Requirements NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (l) 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: 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. 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. Specialized Experience(for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience in dental assistance to general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position being filled. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-04 Grade Level: Your resume must demonstrate 6 months of general experience that demonstrates the ability to perform or a familiarity with patient scheduling; and dental terminology to ensure accurate recording of dental treatment; AND 6 months of specialized experience in dental assistance to general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position being filled. Examples include: Experience setting up for and assisting dental procedures; providing oral hygiene and post-operative instructions; providing point of care cleaning, disinfection, and instrument/equipment maintenance; Treating basic cases of gingivitis, utilizing ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments. Restore class I posterior restorations, complete coronal polishing and placing fluoride. Inventory management; documenting in an electronic dental record; taking radiographs and mounting them in an electronic dental record; monitoring dental patients and providing general hygiene education. OR Successful completion of a 2-year dental assistant program or completion of a 2-year dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included at least 12 semester hours of courses such as radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; dark room and processing techniques; and film mounting; OR Combination of experience and post-high school education. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. GS-05 Grade Level: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Examples include: In addition to the GS-04 grade level examples; Ability to fabricate single unit temporary restorations, placing hemostatic agents. Providing point of care cleaning, disinfection, and instrument/equipment maintenance; inventory management; documenting in an electronic dental record; taking radiographs and mounting them in an electronic dental record; monitoring dental patients; experience providing direct patient care services and patient education on dental procedures; experience working with children under the age of 4. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in a dental assistant or dental hygiene program that included at least 24 semester hours in courses as shown above for GS-3. OR Combination of experience and post-high school education. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. Expanded Function Experience Examples GS-05: In addition to GS-04/05 dental assistant examples; Ability to treat moderate cases of gingivitis with mild to moderate supra gingival calculus utilizing ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments, provide specific hygiene education on adjuncts. Restore class I and II posterior and anterior restorations, place cavity liners and provide patient education on deep fillings. GS-06 Grade Level: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Examples include: In addition to the GS-05 grade level examples; ability to treat severe cases of gingivitis with moderate to severe supra gingival calculus ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments, provide specific hygiene education on adjuncts and medications to treat gingival disease. Complete cuspal coverage restorations, fabricate multiple unit temporary restorations, ability to educate patient on post-operative pain management and infection control. Monitoring dental patients; experience providing direct patient care services; experience working with children under the age of 4; performs simple prophys and periodontal debridements; places temporary fillings. Special Requirements (Expanded Function): Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) position must have completed 1 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: 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. U.S. Army's Dental Therapy Assistant Training Program. Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services. 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. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Education Education: For positions requiring positive education requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume. When there is a positive education requirement, or you are using education to qualify as a substitution for experience, transcripts (unofficial) are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational requirement or substitution. 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 Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed. Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement. 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. This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 6 month service agreement will be required. The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit: For IHS - https://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/ For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/ For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps This position has promotion potential to the GS-06 grade level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher-level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.