Dental Assistant

Quick Facts

• Role: Dental Assistant

• Supervision: Indirect supervision for assigned procedures; some complex procedures under guidance

Description

Dental Assistants provide chairside and clinical support for routine and specialized dental procedures, assisting the dentist with direct patient care and performing selected clinical and clerical tasks independently. The role emphasizes infection control, dental imaging (traditional and digital), instrument/equipment maintenance, patient education, and supportive administrative duties such as scheduling and record support.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Proficient in written and spoken English

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Pass pre-employment physical examination

• Complete required VA onboarding and documentation

• Seasonal influenza vaccination requirement for VA Health Care Personnel

• Male applicants must be registered with Selective Service (born after 12/31/1959)

• Meet radiologic competence credentialing/certification requirements (approved exams/courses or qualifying grandfathering)

• Qualify via 6 months relevant experience OR 1-year CODA-accredited dental assistant program OR an equivalent combination of experience/education

• For GS-6 full performance: identify normal oral anatomy; advanced knowledge of instruments/materials and standardized procedures across restorative/surgical/endodontic/periodontic care; monitor and interpret vital signs; provide procedure-specific patient education; capture diagnostic-quality standard and special dental images (traditional/digital); maintain routine and specialty dental equipment; enter and retrieve data using electronic dental records; perform appropriate dental assistant laboratory procedures

Work Schedule

• Tuesday–Friday: 7:45am–4:15pm

• Saturday: 6:45am–3:15pm (or Monday–Friday: 7:45am–4:15pm), with occasional Saturdays

Benefits

• Annual paid time off: 37–50 days per year (annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays)

• Parental leave: up to 12 weeks paid after 12 months of employment

• Child care subsidy: up to 25% of eligible costs (with income and eligibility limits)

• Retirement: traditional federal pension and federal 401K (up to 5% VA contributions)

• Insurance: health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care options

• Comprehensive federal benefits package (eligibility depends on position type)