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

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided pay range

This range is provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$45,447.00/yr - $59,079.00/yr

Summary

The incumbent will serve as part of the New Mexico VA Health Care System Dental Service – main hospital as a Staff Dental Assistant at the full performance level with the ability to perform a full range of duties and perform assigned selected procedures with some independence. They receive guidance from more experienced staff members for complex patient issues for which they require direct supervision and daily contact with the supervisor at the work site.

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: Citizen of the United States
• English Language Proficiency – candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work – or provides familiarity with the work.
• Education: Successful completion of a 1‑year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
• Certification: Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board – Inc., or equivalent approved program.
• Basic life‑support certification highly desirable.
• DANB certification preferred for staff positions above GS‑06.
• Grade determinations: GS‑06 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) – requires at least one year of experience equivalent to the next‐lower grade level (GS‑05).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• 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.
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
• Ability to independently provide procedure‑specific patient education and appropriate referral 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.
• Physical requirements: long periods of standing, walking, sitting, bending, pushing equipment and lifting patients.

Duties

• Provides courtesy, respect and a positive attitude for patients, co‑workers and the public.
• Assists customers with questions or concerns; provides service recovery.
• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
• Passe instruments safely, accurately and efficiently.
• Maintains operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer’s instructions.
• Accomplishes all intra‑operative procedures within standard infection‑control protocols.
• Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four‑handed dentistry.
• Assists in specialized dental procedures – oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration.
• Maintains dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and VA dental service standards.
• Exposes standard and specialty dental imaging (TMJ, ceph, cone‑beam) in traditional and/or digital formats.
• Modifies imaging settings to achieve requested images.
• Demonstrates proper infection‑control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories.
• Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross‑contamination.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.
• Follows computer security regulations and assists in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records.
• Monitors patient condition during treatment – alert to signs of physical distress.
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• Other duties as assigned, including laboratory functions as time and skill allow.
• Work schedule: 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday–Friday.

Seniority level

Entry level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Health Care Provider

Industries

Government Administration

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