DENTAL ASSISTANT

Full Job Description

About the Position: This position is located at the Stuttgart Dental Health Clinic. The incumbent will work as an assistant primarily supporting a dental specialist. This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or 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 - Radiology Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75.The following meet these requirements: (1) Persons who meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75.

Successful completion of 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 are certified as a radiographer in their field.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) Persons that have successfully completed an educational program that included curriculum in dental radiography, but the program does not meet OR persons are unsure if it meets the credentialing standards of 42 CFR Part 75.

NOTE: To meet this requirement, you will be asked to complete the alternate radiology certification form.

If it is determined that your educational program does not meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75, you will be required to complete an alternative certification program, such as the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) or Introduction to Basic Concepts in Dental Radiology administered by the American Dental Assistant Association.

Any fee for the alternative certification program will be the financial responsibility of the applicant and must be completed prior to an established appointment effective date.

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 assistance to a dental specialist for a variety of complex restorative prosthodontic, oral surgical, endodontic, orthodontic, or periodontal treatment; charting examination and treatment information; operating dental x-ray equipment; sterilizing instruments, materials and equipment and scheduling appointments for dental procedures.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).

OR Education: Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in a dental assistant or dental hygiene program that included at least 24 semester hours of courses in radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond two years (total semester hours minus 60) by 60.

Add the two percentages.

Major Duties:

• Receive and schedule patients for treatment. Obtain and record related medical history of patient, and route patient for medical test and services when required.
• Take preliminary dental impressions; pours and trims study models from impressions.
• Chart examination and treatment information. Record information on prescriptions.
• Maintain dental equipment in a clean and operative condition.
• Relay dentist’s instructions to patient for post-treatment care. Instruct patient in proper dental techniques, care of appliances, and causes of dental decay.
• Operate dental X-ray equipment to take intra and extra-oral radiographs.
• Sterilize instruments, materials, equipment, and prepares surgical trays.
• Maintain a variety of recurring reports related to dental activities.
• Retrieve digital images and/or develop and finish film.