Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

About the Position: This position is located within Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Director for Dentistry, Department of Primary Care Dentistry at Bethesda, Maryland.

Primary Care Dentistry Department hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 0700 to 1600.

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

Construct athletic mouth guards, custom impression trays and soft bite-guards. | Maintain clear operating field by using high volume evacuator and suction tip to remove fluids and debris, retract tongue, cheek, and tissues; apply rubber dam to isolate operative sites. | Apply topical anesthetic, medicaments, and surgical gauze following extraction as directed; remove sutures. | Obtain preliminary impressions, modify impression trays, fabricate custom trays, pour and trim casts. | Schedule, receive and prepare patients for treatment. | Instruct patients in preventive dental care, demonstrating brushing and flossing and explaining the common causes of tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function):

Radiology Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (1) 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 (2) be certified as radiographers in their field. The following meet these requirements:

(1) Persons employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel prior to the effective date of the regulation (January 13, 1986) who show evidence of current or fully satisfactory performance or certification of such from a licensed practitioner such as a Doctor of Medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic who prescribes radiologic procedures to others.

(2) Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation, or (b) practiced in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not license that particular field or did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program, provided such persons show evidence of training, experience, and competence, as determined by OPM or the employing agency.

Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) positions must have completed one-year of acceptable course work, preceptorship, or other formal training and/or work assignments specifically designed to equip them with knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures involved in the position to be filled. Examples of acceptable training are:

1. Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that are directly related to the intra-oral procedures (also referred to as expanded functions) that are to be performed in the position to be filled.

2. U.S. Army's Dental Therapy Assistant Training Program.

3. Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.

4. Other training comparable to the above in private or governmental hospitals, clinics, or schools that included formal classroom instruction and clinical training in the knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures in the position to be filled.

Note: You must attach proof of completing the Radiologic and educational requirement with your application package. Proof may include school transcripts, course completion certificates, certification, etc.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes providing chair-side dental assistant expanded function duties to include performing oral prophylaxis and operating dental x-ray equipment to take intra and extra-oral radiographs. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. | This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Tier 1 security investigation or access for the duration of employment. A background investigation and credit check are required. | This position has mandatory seasonal Influenza vaccination requirements and is subject to annual seasonal Influenza vaccinations unless otherwise exempted for medical or religious reasons (documentation of exemption must be provided upon hire). | Immunization screening is required. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position. | This position requires that you obtain and maintain a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from, or in accordance with, the American Heart Association and American Red Cross. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS. | Lifting up to 25 pounds may be required.