Job Listing: Dental Assistant

Duty Locations

 1 vacancy - Harlingen, TX
Incumbent holds the position of dental assistant in the Dental Service and functions in the areas of Endodontics, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, Radiology, and Oral Diagnosis performing at a high level in each.  Incumbent receives and schedules patients for treatment in the Dental Clinic and/or the Operating Room.  Prepares the operatory using proper infection control techniques as prescribed in service policies and by properly laying out all instruments and materials in the sequence of use and then prepares the patient.  Obtains and records information related to the medical and dental history of the patient including temperature, pulse and blood pressure.  Charts information relayed by the doctor.  Routes patients for medical tests and services when required.  Assists the dental care provider at chairside or in the operating room as anticipated or required in all phases of treatment utilizing techniques for four-handed sit-down dentistry or stand-up treatment procedures.  Passes instruments and materials to, and retrieves them from the doctor, keeps the field of operation clear using the high velocity evacuation system, suction tip and irrigation; retracts and protects tissue, tongue and cheek; maintains aseptic conditions, stabilizes the tissue, cuts sutures.  Is always alert to the condition of the patient during treatment for signs of fainting, shock or other distress.  Performs certain reversible intra-oral procedures as directed by the doctor such as obtaining preliminary impressions, removal of sutures, placing and removing rubber dam, periodontal pack, matrix bands and interproximal wedges.  Prepares instrument treatment trays for sterilization.  Maintains dental equipment and dental operatory in a clean and operable condition.  Maintains and properly stores an adequate level of supplies.  Maintains a variety of recurring reports relating to dental activities.  Obtain patients’ records prior to treatment of episode, and insures that records are returned to files at completion of treatment episode.  Pours and trims models from impressions, constructs custom impression trays and bite rims.  Operates dental x-ray equipment, both standard and panoramic.  Positions patient and film for proper exposure of intra and extra-oral x-rays.  Processes exposed films, using either automatic or manual processing techniques.  Performs all other duties as assigned.  

Major Duties

Incumbent holds the position of dental assistant in the Dental Service and functions in the areas of Endodontics, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, Radiology, and Oral Diagnosis performing at a high level in each.  Incumbent receives and schedules patients for treatment in the Dental Clinic and/or the Operating Room.  Prepares the operatory using proper infection control techniques as prescribed in service policies and by properly laying out all instruments and materials in the sequence of use and then prepares the patient.  Obtains and records information related to the medical and dental history of the patient including temperature, pulse and blood pressure.  Charts information relayed by the doctor.  Routes patients for medical tests and services when required.  Assists the dental care provider at chairside or in the operating room as anticipated or required in all phases of treatment utilizing techniques for four-handed sit-down dentistry or stand-up treatment procedures.  Passes instruments and materials to, and retrieves them from the doctor, keeps the field of operation clear using the high velocity evacuation system, suction tip and irrigation; retracts and protects tissue, tongue and cheek; maintains aseptic conditions, stabilizes the tissue, cuts sutures.  Is always alert to the condition of the patient during treatment for signs of fainting, shock or other distress.  Performs certain reversible intra-oral procedures as directed by the doctor such as obtaining preliminary impressions, removal of sutures, placing and removing rubber dam, periodontal pack, matrix bands and interproximal wedges.  Prepares instrument treatment trays for sterilization.  Maintains dental equipment and dental operatory in a clean and operable condition.  Maintains and properly stores an adequate level of supplies.  Maintains a variety of recurring reports relating to dental activities.  Obtain patients’ records prior to treatment of episode, and insures that records are returned to files at completion of treatment episode.  Pours and trims models from impressions, constructs custom impression trays and bite rims.  Operates dental x-ray equipment, both standard and panoramic.  Positions patient and film for proper exposure of intra and extra-oral x-rays.  Processes exposed films, using either automatic or manual processing techniques.  Performs all other duties as assigned.  

How to Apply

Mail your applications so it will be postmarked by closing date. If hand delivered, be sure your application is received by closing date.

Please submit a narrative response to each knowledge, skill or ability listed. Your response should describe what you did, how often you performed this activity, the guidelines available, the complexity of the assignment, and who you performed the activity for or with.

If you are a current or former federal employee with reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Action (SF50) showing your position, title, series, grade and eligibility.

INTERNAL APPLICANTS -

INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED CANDIDATES SHOULD APPLY ON VA FORM 4078, APPLICATION FOR PROMOTION OR REASSIGNMENT, WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR SERVICE SECRETARY, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SERVICE (HRMS) AT EACH DIVISION AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AT SATELLITE CLINICS.  THIS FORM MUST BE RETURNED TO HRMS BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. AT THE TIME YOU PICK UP THE VAF-4078, PLEASE PICK UP THE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS AS DESCRIBED BELOW.  CURRENT EMPLOYEES MUST HAVE SERVED THREE MONTHS SINCE YOUR CAREER-CONDITIONAL APPOINTMENT.  THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO VRA EMPLOYEES.  EMPLOYEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THEIR OFFICIAL PERSONNEL FOLDER (OPF) IS UPDATED WITH THEIR CURRENT JOB DUTIES AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. QUALIFICATION DETERMINATIONS FOR THE ANNOUNCED POSITION WILL BE BASED ON INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE OPF AND RESPONSES TO THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED (KSA’s) AS LISTED BELOW, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATION STANDARDS. KSA’s ARE TO BE RESPONDED TO ON VAF-4676a, EMPLOYEE SUPPLEMENTAL QUALIFICATION STATEMENT AND VAF-4667b, SUPERVISORY APPRAISAL OF EMPLOYEE FOR PROMOTION. THE VAF-4676a SUPPLEMENTALS WILL BE THE PRIMARY DOCUMENT USED TO EVALUATE QUALIFICATIONS AND TO RATE AND RANK CANDIDATES.  EMPLOYEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING COMPLETE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION AND RETURNING THE VAF-4676a TO HRMS, AUDIE L. MURPHY DIVISION, SAN ANTONIO, ROOM Q113, OR KERRVILLE DIVISION HRMS OFFICE, NO LATER THAN 7 DAYS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. 

EXTERNAL APPLICANTS

SHOULD APPLY ON AN OF-612, OPTIONAL APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT, AN OF-306, DECLARATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.  PLEASE ADDRESS/COMPLETE THE KSAO’S LISTED ABOVE ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER.  IF APPLICABLE, PROVIDE LATEST SF-50-B.  APPLICATIONS CAN BE MAILED TO: AUDIE L. MURPHY DIVISION, HRMS/05B, 7400 MERTON MINTER BLVD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78229.  APPLICATIONS MAILED MUST BE POST MARKED ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE.  GO TO WWW.USAJOBS.OPM.GOV AND CLICK ON THE LINK FOR FORMS TO DOWNLOAD THE OPTIONAL FORM 612 AND THE OPTIONAL FORM 306.

IF YOU ARE CLAIMING VETERAN PREFERENCE, PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR DD-214.  IF YOU ARE CLAIMING 10-POINT VETERAN PREFERANCE, PLEASE SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR 10-POINT PREFERENCE (SF-15) WITH THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION.

Contact Information:
Maria Canales

Phone: 210-617-5133

Email: maria.canales2@va.gov


Or write:
Department Of Veterans Affairs
7400 Merton Minter Blvd.
San Antonio, TX 78229

US


What To Expect Next:

Applicants will be notified by mail as to outcome of this position.