Dental Assistant

Quick Facts

• Role: Dental Assistant (GS-6 full performance level)

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–4:00pm

• Telework: Not available

Description

Dental Assistants assist the dentist with direct patient care and perform independent clinical and clerical functions, with guidance and direct supervision for complex patient issues. The role includes operatory/surgery suite setup and cleaning, assisting with routine and specialty dental procedures, infection-control-compliant intra-operative support, vital-sign monitoring, impression and model preparation, procedure-specific patient education, and diagnostic-quality dental imaging with safety practices. Clerical duties include scheduling support, charting and computerized progress notes, clinical reminders, and preparing dental lab cases.

Responsibilities

• Set up and clean operatory/surgery suite; maintain a debris-free operative field
• Assist with routine general and specialized procedures (oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement/restoration)
• Use standardized dental instruments and materials across restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care
• Prepare medicaments and impression materials; pour and take impressions for diagnostic casts and prosthetics
• Make final denture impression trays and bite rims; remove plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses
• Perform intra-operative procedures following standard infection control protocols
• Monitor basic patient vital signs during invasive treatment/recovery
• Fabricate athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays
• Prepare instruments for sterilization transfer (SPS)
• Identify normal oral anatomy and capture diagnostic-quality dental images in traditional or digital formats
• Adjust imaging settings per provider request; apply dental imaging safety techniques to minimize retakes
• Support scheduling by covering gaps from late cancellations or failed appointments
• Chart findings, treatment plans, and treatments in patient records; initiate computerized treatment and progress notes
• Complete return-to-clinic orders and clinical reminders
• Prepare cases for dental laboratory and ensure timely retrieval of completed cases
• Respond to veteran phone calls, secure messages, and inquiries/concerns

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selective Service registration required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Complete required online onboarding and I-9 pre-employment documentation
• Seasonal influenza vaccination required
• Meet education/experience requirement: 6 months relevant experience OR 1-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program OR equivalent combination
• Credentialing/certification for radiologic procedures (with defined certification pathways)
• Basic life support certification highly desirable
• DANB certification highly desirable (not required)
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases
• Paid time off: 37–50 days annual paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and Federal holidays)
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service (for selected applicants)
• Parental leave: up to 12 weeks paid after 12 months of employment
• Child care subsidy: eligible full-time employees may qualify after 60 days (income threshold and maximum subsidy apply)
• Retirement: federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions
• Insurance: health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many programs can carry into retirement)

• Note: This is not a virtual position.