U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring: Dental Assistant in Oklahoma City

Overview

The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System, Dental Service, is recruiting four (4) Dental Assistants located in Oklahoma City, OK. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2025 or until all positions are filled.

Responsibilities

• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
• Receives and prepares patient for treatment including seating, positioning chair, and placing napkin.
• Retrieves all pertinent patient records prior to seating patient.
• Performs disinfection and sterilizing procedures.
• Prepares procedural trays/armamentaria set ups.
• Performs basic chairside assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist. Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection-control protocols.
• Reports medical emergencies to dentist.
• Assists in routine general dental procedures.
• Assists with basic restorative procedures.
• Maintains a field of operation during dental procedures via retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing, and removing cotton rolls.
• Mixes basic dental materials.
• Assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms.
• Provides patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction.
• Maintains dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standards.

Work Schedule

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday - Friday

Compressed/Flexible: Per supervisor discretion

Telework: No

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 53508, 53409, 53410

Recruitment Incentives: Yes

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Experience and Education
• Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work, OR
• Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
• Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. They must have completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards and be certified as radiographers in their field.
• Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence
• Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination by DANB, OR
• Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed for Dentistry Officials, OR
• Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the DoD.
• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D). Failure to obtain certification during that period may be justified for termination of the temporary appointment.
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is highly desirable for higher levels and required for positions above the full performance level.
• English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria apply for grade determination.

Dental Assistant, GS-3

• Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

Dental Assistant, GS-4

• Experience or Education: 1 year of experience at the next lower level, OR 2 years of education above high school including CODA-accredited dental assistant program.

AND You must additionally demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling.
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies.
• Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval.
• Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment.
• Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.

Dental Assistant, GS-5

• Experience or Education: 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or CODA-accredited program.

AND Demonstrate the following KSA:

• Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality.
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement.
• Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures.
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA.
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.

Staff Dental Assistant, GS-6 (Full Performance Level)

• Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

AND Demonstrate the following technical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

Physical Requirements

Light carrying under 15 pounds, reaching above shoulder, both hands required, walking/standing 8-10 hours, repeated bending, both legs required, specific visual requirements, rapid mental and muscular coordination, depth perception, color discrimination, hearing.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript.

Additional information

Additional information about benefits, eligibility, and program policies relevant to federal employment is provided where applicable. This opportunity may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

This job opportunity announcement may include opt-in resume visibility and may be used to fill vacancies.

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Seniorities and job functions: Seniority level Mid-Senior level; Employment type Full-time; Job function Health Care Provider; Industries Hospitals and Health Care.

Note: This transcription reflects the information in the original posting and is intended for refinement and proper formatting only.