Lead Dental Assistant

Quick Facts

• Role: Lead Dental Assistant (GS-7)

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

• Telework: Not available

• Virtual: Not a virtual position

Description

Provide advanced dental assisting duties with greater scope, complexity, and clinical responsibility under the general supervision of a dentist. Perform direct patient care, expanded functions, dental imaging (traditional/digital), infection control and sterilization support, and related clerical/documentation tasks. Assist with diagnostic information gathering, treatment prep, and selected dental laboratory tasks.

Responsibilities

• Provide courteous patient/customer service and service recovery

• Prepare operatory/surgery suite for procedures and clean equipment between patients

• Pass instruments safely, keep the operative field clear, and prepare medicaments/impression materials per instructions

• Follow infection control protocols; disinfect appliances; prepare instruments for transfer to SPD for sterilization

• Expose and adjust settings for diagnostic-quality dental images (including TMJ, cephalometric, cone beam, and advanced panoramic imaging), minimizing retakes

• Support scheduling by assisting with late cancellations and failed appointments

• Initiate computerized progress notes and assist the dentist with charting findings and treatment plans

• Support patient safety through patient identification and time-out per Joint Commission requirements

• Monitor patient condition and vital signs during treatment and recovery (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter)

• Apply topical anesthetic at injection sites, apply topical fluoride, and take impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary/prosthetic impressions

• Perform selected dental laboratory functions such as pouring impressions, preparing study models, making denture impression trays and bite rims, and fabricating mouth guards and bleaching trays

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Proficiency in written and spoken English

• Subject to background/security investigation and VA onboarding requirements

• DANB certification required at this grade level (proof required)

• Radiologic competency/certification required for radiologic procedures (must meet required exam/course/program standards)

• Qualifying experience: at least 6 months relevant experience OR completion of a 1-year ADA CODA-accredited dental assistant program OR an equivalent combination

• At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-06) or equivalent, plus demonstrated expanded-function assisting and advanced imaging knowledge

Benefits

A comprehensive federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on position type.