This position is located at Thoreau Health Clinic under the Division of Clinical Services, Dental Department in Crownpoint, New Mexico. The purpose of this position is to provide dental assistant duties as they pertain to all phases of dentistry including preventive and restorative procedures. The position reports to the Supervisory Dental Assistant.

Duties

This position is being re-advertised to solicit additional applications. Applicants who applied previously need not reapply unless submitting updated and\/or missing information. Dental Assistant/Patient Care: Performs a wide range of reversible intra-oral dental procedures under the direction of the dentist. Restores teeth prepared by dentist with permanent and temporary fillings. Supports dentist in endodontic treatments by applying rubber dam, removing temporary filling using low speed hand piece, and cleansing and drying operative field. Takes preliminary impressions for study models, modifying impression tray as needed. Constructs custom impression trays, bite rims and in-house mouth guards. Retracts gingiva from tooth for final impressions by placing and removing retraction cord. Selects, adapts and seats stainless steel crowns; constructs and cements temporary acrylic crowns and bridges. Assists in surgical treatment by applying and removing periodontal and post-extraction dressing, and removing sutures. Instructs patient in preventive dental care measures, general nutrition as related to dental health, the common causes of tooth decay, and the care prosthodontic appliances. Applies desensitizing agents, tissue conditioners and other topical agents prescribed by dentist to specified areas of the oral cavity. Operates dental X-ray equipment to take intra- and extra-oral radiographs. Provides chair side assistance, fully anticipating dentist's needs for various instruments, materials and services.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Individual Occupational Requirement - Radiologic Requirement: NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (l) 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 (2) be certified as radiographers in their field. The following meet these requirements: 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. 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. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Examples of General Experience: (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Examples of Specialized Experience are duties performed in general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position being filled. GS-04: Six (6) months general experience and six (6) month specialized experience in dental assistance equivalent to at least the GS-03 grade level; OR, two (2) year dental assistant program or completion of a two (2) year dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included at least 12 semester hours of courses such as 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 GS-05: One (1) year of specialized experience in dental assistance equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level; OR, four (4) year course study in a dental assistant or dental hygiene program that included at least 24 semester hours in courses such as 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 GS-06: One (1) year of specialized experience in dental assistance equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level; OR, completed nine (9) semester hours of graduate education related to Special Requirements for GS-5 and above Dental Assistant (Expanded Function): Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) positions must have completed one (1) year of acceptable course work, preceptorship, or other formal training and/or work assignments specifically designed to equip them with knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures involved in the position to be filled. Examples of acceptable training are: Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that are directly related to the intra-oral procedures (also referred to as expanded functions) that are to be performed in the position to be filled. U.S. Army's Dental Therapy Assistant Training Program. Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services. Other training comparable to the above in private or governmental hospitals, clinics, or schools that included formal classroom instruction and clinical training in the knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures in the position to be filled. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

Education

When there is a positive education requirement, or you are using education to qualify as a substitution for experience, transcripts (unofficial) are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational requirement or substitution.
Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Crownpoint Healthcare Facility PO Box 358 Crownpoint, NM 87313 US
• Name: Navajo Area IHS Human Resources
• Email: [email protected]