U.S. Department of Defense

Summary

This position is located in the Dental Service Section of the VA NJHCS at East Orange, Lyons, and Toms River, NJ and is under the direct supervision of the Staff Dentist during patient treatment. It primarily involves chairside assistance duties in all phase of restorative dentistry, as well as in the special areas of Prosthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Endodontics, Periodontics and Gerodontics.

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Duties

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as dental auxiliary for the Dental Service. Performs chairside assistance duties in all phases of restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgery, endodontic and periodontal treatment.
• Assists the dentist at chairside as anticipated or required in all phases of general dentistry, utilizing techniques for four-handed sit-down dentistry. Passes and relieves the dentist of all instruments and materials.
• Assists in specialized dental procedures such as prosthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, and surgical periodontics, including full knowledge of instrumentation and procedures for these specialized procedures.
• At the discretion of the provider, able to performs the following intra-oral procedures: take preliminary impressions for study models; remove sutures, place/remove rubber dams (during periapical x-ray procedures); place periodontal dressing; and place matrix bands and wedges.
• Takes and records blood pressure and pulse of patients new to the Dental Service, as well as oral surgery patients before and after treatment.
• Digital intra-and extra-oral radiographs with minimal retakes.
• Relays dentist's post-treatment instructions to patients. As part of the preventive dentistry program, instructs patients in brushing and flossing techniques and common causes of dental caries, patient application of fluorides and care of prosthodontic appliances.
• At the discretion of the provider, records information relayed by the dentist into the patient chart, on prescriptions and other forms in preparation for the signature of the dentist.
• Adheres to appropriate Dental SOP's (e.g., Dental Unit Water Maintenance, etc.), MCM's, HIPPA, JC and Network Security, Infection Control procedures/ policies, and OSHA standards for clinical and laboratory operations in performance of his/her duties.
• Has full record keeping, receptionist and some housekeeping (limited to work area) responsibilities.
• Receives and routes patients and schedules appointments as needed.
• Records patients' medical histories, charts examination and treatment information as relayed by the dentist and properly fill out appropriate laboratory forms.
• Maintains dental equipment in a clean and operating condition; properly stores and maintains adequate levels of supplies, so that patient care is not affected by supply shortages.
• Properly lays out all instruments and materials needed for each treatment; prepares the patient and operatory in a timely manner (i. e., adheres to the posted schedule).
• Prepares instrument, cart, materials, and equipment as indicated for processing/sterilization by SPS; prepares surgical trays for the dental clinic and operating room. Maintains operatory mobile cart.
• Keeps area of operation clear using high speed evacuation; suction tip and irrigation; retracts tissue, tongue, and cheeks. In surgical procedures maintains aseptic conditions, stabilizes tissue for dentist and tying and cutting sutures. Keeps alert to condition of patient during treatment for signs of fainting or shock.
• Maintains adequate supplies and requests expendable supplies as appropriate.
• At the discretion of the provider, pours and trims models from impressions and constructs custom impression trays.
• Assists in the training of trainee dental assistants, dental assistant students and dental hygiene students from area community colleges. Demonstrates routinely maintained work area/ operatory, chair-side assisting and radiographic techniques. Observes and advises trainees and students as they perform these duties.
• Incumbent wears, without constant reminder, all personal protective equipment (PPE) provided as required by the job tasks being performed. Ensures appropriate personal protective equipment is used when required by the job in order to prevent injury to self, patients, other staff, and visitors.
• After having received training, identifies hazardous waste generated in the work area and properly labels, packages, stores, and segregates from non-compatible materials, all identified hazardous waste.
• Appropriately cleans up minor releases of hazardous materials/waste in the work area; follows proper procedures for reporting major releases in the work area and notifies his/her supervisor of need to file all required reports far hazardous material/waste releases within the required time as per OSHA Regulations, as well as Accident Form 2162 and CA I or CA 2 if personnel injury/illness is involved.
• Knows the location and use of SDS. Knows SOP for Methyl Methacrylate and Burning Alcohol.
• Adhere to the Dental Service standard operating duties and responsibilities for scheduled and or walking patients.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 21082-A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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:

1) Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.

OR,

(2) Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

(3) 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. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.

Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence

(a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.;

OR,

(b) Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry.

OR,

(c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level, and is required for all positions above the full performance level.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

Creditable Experience

(a) Knowledge of Current Professional Dental Assistant Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities [(KSAs)], and other characteristics (also referred to as "core competencies") associated with current professional dental assisting practice. Evidence of such experience includes graduation from a certified dental assisting training program, experience in private practice, VHA, Department of Defense (DoD), or other federal, state, community or charitable health care agency.

(b) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable after the training program certifies that the individual has completed all required courses, an internship if it is part of the program, and graduated with passing grades.

(c) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a dental assistant is credited according to its relationship to full-time workweek. For example, a dental assistant would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work.

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Grade Determinations: GS-6 Dental Assistant

(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS(05) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

(b) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA :

• 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.

Assignment. Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, 7 prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.

Preferred Experience: Must have three years, currently practicing dental assistant experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06.

Physical Requirements: Work involves fine motor movement, sitting, standing (sometimes for long periods), walking, bending, twisting, and lifting and carrying light items (up to 20 lbs).

English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part

Education

IMPORTANT: 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 colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement 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. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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• Benefits
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• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
• Review our benefits
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/18/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12745698.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

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Agency contact information

Monique Barton

Phone

6313669290

Email

Monique.Barton@va.gov

Address

VA New Jersey Health Care System

385 Tremont Avenue

East Orange, NJ 07018

US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

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