Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.

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This position is located in the Dental Service at at the main campus of the VA North Texas Veterans Health Care System (VANTH CS), Dallas, TX.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Functions or Scope of Duties:
The General Dentistry dental officer shall be proficient in all aspects of general dentistry including the ability to perform selected specialty services. Specifically, the provider should possess the expertise and competency to perform the following:

a. Patient Care:
i. Make oral and radiographic examinations of the oral cavity
ii. Diagnose pathological or irregular oral conditions.
iii. Administer local anesthesia.
iv. Perform routine and complex restoration of teeth.
v. Perform simple and complex extractions of teeth.
vi. Perform alveoloplasty and other routine surgical procedures.
vii. Perform prosthetic dentistry to include immediate dentures, full dentures, partial dentures, crowns, and fixed bridge work.
viii. Perform implant restorations.
ix. Perform routine endodontic procedures on single and multi-canal teeth.
x. Perform routine and surgical procedures within the scope of a general dentist.
xi. The responsibilities of the position include overall administrative and clinical responsibility for all aspects of your dental clinic(s). The Dental Service Administrative Officer and other members of the Dental Service will support you in this, as you deem necessary. You will work with the Dental Hygienists, Dental Assistants and Dental Lab Technicians, Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residents (GPR) assigned to the Dental Service.
xii. The incumbent coordinates assignment of responsibilities commensurate with the responsibilities expected of these individuals to maintain efficient clinic operations.

b. Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization
i. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures.
ii. Completes annual mandatory Infection Control Training

c. Information Management
i. Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.
ii. Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy.
iii. Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion.
iv. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement.

d. Patient Safety
i. Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position).
ii. Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients.
iii. Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements.
iv. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.
v. Completes annual mandatory patient safety courses.

e. Employee Education
i. Complies with Employee Education requirements of 40 hours/year.
ii. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions per medical center policy.
iii. Continuing Education will be identified, planned, supported, documented and validated for each Employee.

The scope of practice that a specific provider may perform is defined through the medical center credentialing and privileging process.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 7:30am- 4pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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.
• 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).
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary 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 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.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

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.
• Education: Degree of doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine resulting from a course of education in dentistry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:
  • (1) United States and Canadian schools of dentistry listed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.
  • (2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia as qualifying for full and unrestricted licensure provided the licensure requirements include a written examination measuring science achievement and a performance examination measuring clinical competence.
• Residency or Comparable Experience: Completion of an approved residency program in general practice or specialty, or comparable experience as a dentist actively involved in treating medically compromised patients.
• Licensure and Registration: Dentists (Except Residents). Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. The dentist must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. Residents (Independent and Integrated Programs). Graduates of approved United States and Canadian schools of dentistry must have a current, full and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia before the second year of VA residency, or, for integrated programs, meet any licensure, registration or other equivalent requirements established for residents of non-VA hospitals with which the VA facility is affiliated for training purposes. The resident must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active current licensure.
• English Language Proficiency: Dentists, including residents, appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

• Completion of a GPR, AEGD program or 5 years experience in dentistry.
• Minimum 3 years of clinical experience, with preference for prior VA or public health experience.
• Strong knowledge of VA Community Care policies and dental eligibility criteria.
• Prior experience managing dental referrals or working within a managed care or public health setting.
• Familiarity with VA's electronic health record systems (e.g., CPRS, VistA, or Cerner).
• Experience with quality assurance and performance improvement in dental care.

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.


NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

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.