Dental Assistant (EF)

JOB TITLE: Dental Assistant (EF)

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: IHS-19-OK-10561182-DE

OPEN PERIOD: July 26, 2019 through September 26, 2019

SERIES & GRADE: GS 5 - 6

WHO MAY APPLY:  All US Citizens 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Restores teeth after preparation has been accomplished.
• Provides chairside assisting and fully anticipates dentist's need for various instruments, materials, and service. Prepares materials and equipment for use by the Dentist.
• Performs a variety of intra-oral procedures (as directed by the Dentist) such as oral prophylaxis, operates cavitron, applies pit and fissure sealants, removes temporary fillings, and cements stainless steel crowns.
• Performs radiological procedures and performs dental laboratory procedures, pours and trims models, fabricates custom trays and bite rims, mounts casts on articulator, and pours final impressions.
• Receives and prepares patients for dental treatments. Maintains records related to appointments, examinations, treatment, and supplies.

KEY REQUIREMENTS: 

• Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
  U.S. Citizenship is required
  Must pass pre-employment examination.
  Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):

RADIOLOGICAL CERTIFICATION:
Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards, which are set forth in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (1) have successfully completed an educational program which meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and which is credited 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 radiological 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 radiological procedures to others.
2. Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiological personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction which did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation, or (b) practiced in a State of foreign jurisdiction which did not license that particular field or which did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program, provided that such persons show evidence of training, experience, and competence, as determined by OPM or the employing agency.

You must have a current I.H.S. or a State (or foreign jurisdiction) dental radiological health and safety certification of competency, or proof of otherwise meeting the above described requirement. (You must submit documentation with application.)

In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
For GS-05: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing the following type of work and/or tasks: performing restoration of teeth after preparation, providing routine prophylaxis and placement of sealants and varnish, setting up proper instruments and providing chairside assistance, and exposing and processing digital oral x-rays.
OR Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in dental assistant or dental hygiene program that included at least 24 semester hours in courses such as radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety and protection; x-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting
OR A combination of experience and education. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. 60 semester hours beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience.

For GS-06: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least 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: performing Class IV (caries affecting proximal including incisal edges of anterior teeth) restorations of teeth after preparation, cementing stainless steel crowns, and carving and polishing any type of cusp protected alloy.

Special Requirements for GS-05 and above Dental Assistant (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.