Dental Laboratory Technician

This position is located within the Portland VA Medial Center in Portland Oregon. He/she is responsible for a full range of complex dental prosthetics in support of the dental clinic and the Veteran population.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Fabricating appliances which correct abnormal for conditions of the mouth including missing teeth, obturators and splints for the replacement of lost oral tissues and the reduction of jaw fractures.
• Constructing and repairing prosthetic appliances from prescriptions prepared by staff dentists, using an articulator in the fabrication of appliances.
• Fabricating all types of precious and metal crowns, acrylic jackets, veneers and inlays, precision attachments, and fixed bridge restorations of gold alloys, porcelain ad acrylic resin, as well as unusually complex porcelain-to-gold restorations. Such work includes using hydrocolloid impressions, duplicating refractory models, trimming dies, and placing dowel pins as well as the proper preparations of wax patterns, investing, casting and polishing crowns.
• The technician is responsible for the proper articulation and occlusion of cases to include full arch models with multi-unit castings to be articulated in the full range of mandibular excursions.
• Fabricating artificial denture restorations according to dentist's prescription, choosing stock teeth, mounting them on an articulator, setting teeth in wax with regard to proper occlusion, articulator, and esthetic appearance as well as ridge and arch contour and jaw relationship. After approval of the setup of teeth, the technician carves and contours the pattern of the denture resin which is chosen on the basis of color to match the patient's mouth.
• Repairs all types of denture fractures, replacing broken or missing denture teeth and soldering and replacing broken clasps.
• Maintains equipment at safe efficient operating levels. Essential routine oiling, cleaning, etc. must be regularly performed.
• Assist in seeing that materials and supplies are adequately stocked.
• Some teaching and training of students from career development program, special work study students.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with all phases of removable design and fabrication.
• Experience in fixed prosthodontics.

Work Schedule: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm PST; Monday to Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Dental Laboratory Technician/PD21791-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed while seated; however, working to close tolerances requires bending and crouching over the work table. Manual dexterity is required to fabricates appliances to exacting specifications. Keen vision is essential. Incumbent is required to lift up to 35lbs when filling plaster bins.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/22/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.


You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

English Proficiency - In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Fabricating all types of precious metal crowns, ceramic crowns, acrylic jackets, veneers and inlays, precision attachments, and fixed bridge restorations of gold alloys, porcelain and acrylic resin, as well as unusually complex porcelain-to-gold restorations; articulation and occlusion of cases to include full arch models with multi-unit castings to be articulated in the full range of mandibular excursions; Maintains equipment at safe efficient operating levels and essential routine oiling, cleaning, etc.; ensuring ongoing review of laboratory chemicals and expiration dates; and maintaining inventory of laboratory chemicals; Teaches and trains in fabrication of removable and fixed prostheses. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• English Proficiency in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.