Dental Assistant/Dental Assistant (EF)

JOB TITLE: Dental Assistant

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: IHS-19-BJ-10346845-ESEP/MP

OPEN PERIOD: December 12, 2018 through September 30, 2019

SERIES & GRADE: GS 4 - 6

WHO MAY APPLY: All US Citizens

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides routine maintenance and disinfection of all dental equipment, instruments, and environmental surfaces, including cleaning and oiling equipment and point of care cleaning.
• Provides routine chairside dental assisting services including seating of patients, setting up proper instruments and trays for dental procedures, recording treatment rendered in the patient record, handing instruments to the dental provider as needed, providing irrigation and suctioning during dental procedures, and dismissing the patient with post-treatment instructions.
• Exposes, process, and mounts diagnostic radiographs.
• Maintains dental inventory of supplies and restocks supplies as necessary.
• Triages patients in anticipation of the dentist. This includes taking vital signs, weights, radiographs, photographs, blood glucose readings, assisting with completion of forms, and documenting subjective findings and chief complaints.
• Administers Nitrous Oxide and monitors patients during administration.
• Monitors condition and mental acuity of patient for signs of loss of consciousness, pain response, or other distress when dentist is not in the operatory.
• Provides direct patient care services such as patient education, sealants, temporary fillings, suture removal, impressions, and fluoride varnishes.
• Serves as back-up for the dental receptionist to register patients, answer phone calls, schedule appointments, etc.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

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

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.