The Dental Laboratory Technician position is located at the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The technician works with a General Dentist or Prosthodontist to design, fabricate and service a wide range of dental prostheses and appliances. The technician assists with complex removable and fixed oral-maxillofacial appliances including fixed, semi-fixed, or removable implant cases, partial and complete dentures.

Duties

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN):12236095 Please read this announcement in its entirety before beginning the application process to ensure you submit all the required documents. See Required Document sections in this announcement before applying. Please read the application questionnaire before applying:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12236095 Federal Resume, Please READ Dental Laboratory Technicians GS-9 : (1) participate in the design and fabrication of very complex dental or intra-oral maxillofacial appliances, (2) participate in research to improve the design of such appliances, or (3) test materials to be used in their construction. Such assignments require: (1) a very thorough knowledge of oral anatomy, tooth morphology and dentition, (2) a thorough knowledge of laboratory materials, tools, and equipment, and (3) a very high degree of skill in their use. Dental Laboratory Technicians GS-9 work under the supervision of oral surgeons, prosthodontists, or other dentists who make work assignments and discuss the requirements of the case, but who rely on the dental laboratory technician to be ingenious and creative in resolving the construction problems involved. Dental Laboratory Technicians GS-9 resolve difficult design and construction problems. Their advice is sought and given weight in planning and carrying out clinical or surgical procedures. The following are illustrative of GS-9 assignments: Fabricates unusually complex porcelain or acrylic crowns and fixed, semi-fixed, or removable bridges, or complete dentures when the severe nature of the dental abnormalities to be overcome require working to unusually close tolerances, resolving particularly difficult problems of retention, balance, reducing tension on natural teeth and tissue, and similar problems. Works closely with oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and other dental, medical, and laboratory specialists in the design and fabrication of intraoral maxillofacial appliances and restorations. This involves : (1) working with dental and medical specialists in developing the design of the appliance (2) personally fabricating, or overseeing the fabrication of the appliance (3) resolving problems in its fabrication. Serves as a subject matter expert to dental staff on fabrication, fitting, and adjustment of dental prostheses and appliances. Oversees the storage, transport, and transfer of items to the Central Dental Laboratory for fabrication. Manages the inventory of the dental laboratory including requests for supplies and stocking teeth. Researches and evaluates new laboratory materials and techniques and recommends changes to the department to maximize efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction. Assumes responsibility for quality and quantity of work accomplished in the laboratory and for the coordination of the work achieved through the Central Dental Laboratory. Manages work to be completed in a timely manner. Conducts minor repairs and maintenance to the equipment, and recognizes and eliminates any hazards to employees in the dental laboratory. Uses body substance isolation and universal precautions to maintain a safe environment. Applies regulatory standards for protection of patients and staff. Ensure smooth operations in the dental clinic, including office operations, as required. Maintain current knowledge of the office operation and during staff absence will provide coverage. Represent the program in standing Medical Center Committee functions. Assist in quality of care monitors and quality improvement activities. Perform the everyday functions of the dental clinic and laboratory including packaging, tracking, and logging all outgoing dental cases to the Central Dental Laboratory. Ensures infection control standards are upheld in the dental laboratory and with all transfer of products and people in and out of the laboratory. Conducts extensive tests of the characteristics of new or modified dental laboratory materials or equipment, taking into account such considerations as tensile strength, hardness, and "workability" of metals, the stability of impression materials, or the efficiency and usefulness of new equipment. Designs and constructs teaching models of various dental appliances for use in illustrating: (1) the principles involved in constructing the appliance Or (2) the ways in which appliance design affects function and esthetics. Plans and conducts classroom and laboratory instruction for dental laboratory technicians of lower grade. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:7954A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/27/2023. 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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-08 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: using dental laboratory material such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials; using laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment; using precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers; and constructing dental prosthetic appliance, fabrication of crowns, fixed and removable partial dentures, and complete denture prostheses. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE.). OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Possess successfully completed 2 years of graduate education that is directly related to the work of this position as a Dental Laboratory Technician. NOTE: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study; if that number cannot be obtained from the transcript, 18 semester hours will be considered as one full academic year of graduate study. (Transcripts Required). OR, Combination: Possess equivalent combinations of experience and education as described above, to fully meet the requirements of this position. (Transcripts Required) Preferred Experience: 1 Year experience as a Licensed Dental Laboratory Technician You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:Eye-Hand CoordinationPhysical Strength and AgilityQuality AssuranceSecuritySelf Management 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary with occasional standing and lifting of up to 50 pounds. Employees routinely uses lathes, model trimmers, furnaces and sharp tools with a potential for injury. Normal safety precautions must be followed. All tasks do not involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissue, but the potential to exposure exists through appliances used by a known risk patient such as seropositive HBV and HIV individuals. (OSHA Exposure Category II). For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Lexington VA Health Care System 2250 Leestown Road Lexington, KY 40511 US
• Name: Kendall Bedell
• Phone: 570-550-2839
• Email: [email protected]