Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent VA employees. The public and employees of other federal agencies may apply to announcement number CBSY-12777910-25-AA.

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The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Monitors manages and response to post surgical bleeding
• Takes final impressions for a variety of basic and specialty procedures
• Performs supra gingival scaling
• Applies pit and fissure sealants new line
• Places liners and bases
• Places and finish is permanent restorative materials
• Makes final impressions
• Adjust dentures
• Applies pit and fissure sealants
• Places liners and bases
• Records final impressions
• Adjust removable prostheses
• Performs tasks defined by state credentialing boards
• Responsible for imaging quality control program (troubleshoots and makes appropriate referrals for identified imaging issues)Assists in developing equipment requests and justifications based on workload analysis
• Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, coworkers, and the public
• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Possesses advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care
• Monitors and performs basic interpretation of patient vital signs and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure
• Performs mouth mirror inspection of the oral cavity
• Charts existing restoration and conditions
• Gathers diagnostic information
• Monitors nitrous oxide analgesic
• Performs pulp vitality testing
• Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four handed dentistry
• Passes instruments safely accurately and efficiently
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions
• Accomplishes all intraoperative procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Assists in specialized dental procedures such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration
• Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and dental service standards
• Monitors patient vital signs and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure relays patient concerns to treating dentist
• Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site
• Places and removes rubber dams and matrix bands
• Places and removes retraction cord
• Possesses comprehensive and thorough knowledge of advanced imaging techniques
• Modify settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider
• Captures images characterized by diagnostic quality that are accurately oriented and exposed
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories
• Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination
• Follows all standard operating procedures for reusable medical equipment
• Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Assist dentists and charting findings and treatment plans and patient records

Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday. Tour of duty will be discussed during interview.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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 trial 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

All requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement, 08/15/2025.

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). OR,
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:

1. Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR,
2. 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,
3. Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

• The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is required for all positions above the full performance level.
• English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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).

Grade Determinations:

GS-8 Senior Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant
Experience: At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level, GS-7, or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. These include: Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions; Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc).
AND
Certification: Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs.
a. Competency in expanded functions to include placement and finishing of permanent restorative materials such as amalgam and/or composite; or recording of final impressions.
b. Comprehensive and thorough knowledge of all aspects of dental imaging.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification (for positions above the full performance level) that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees MUST meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(4) If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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

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.