This is a Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) permanent Full-time position, in the Dental Department, Whiteriver Service Unit, Whiteriver, Arizona. The incumbents will perform a wide range of reversible intra-oral procedures under the direction of the Dental Officer. Incumbent direct supervisor is the Supervisory Dental Assistant.

Duties

Receives and schedules patients for treatment in the dental clinic and operating room. Ascertains chief complaints and informs dental. Obtains and records information related to medical and previous dental history of the patient; routes patients for medical tests and services if required. Give additional information to the patient as needed or deemed appropriate. Records treatment and examination information on patients records; prepare consents forms. Obtains and records blood pressures and pulse when requested by dentist. Provides dental prophylaxis, instructs the patient in the use of oral hygiene aids such as the toothbrush and other periodontal aids, provides fluoride treatment, and place dental sealants. Correctly exposes, processes and mounts both intra and extra-oral dental radiographs, operating both panoramic and cephalometric units. Takes preliminary impressions, modifying the impression tray as needed; pours and trims models from impressions: constructs base plates, bite rims, and custom impression trays. **This position is being announced concurrently under Excepted Service Examining Plan/Merit Promotion Plan (ESEP/MPP) procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-24-PX-12353617-ESEP/MP; for eligibility requirements. NOTE: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered.**

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. Individual Occupational Requirements 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: (1) 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. (2) 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, GS-0681-04: You resume must demonstrate at least 6 months of specialized experience and 6 months of general experience. To qualify based on general and specialized experience for GS-04level, you must have 6 months of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-03) level that included duties such as: Experience in making diagnostic dental impressions, pouring, trimming, and labeling models. Experience in assessing patient's oral hygiene practices providing education on proper oral hygiene aids for home care. General Experience is 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. OR Successful completion of a 2-year dental assistant program or completion of a 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; or (b) practical nurse training approved by the appropriate State, territory, or District of Columbia accrediting body. GS-0681-05: Your resume must demonstrate at least 1 year specialized experience .This specialized experience must be related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service as described in the vacancy announcement. Examples include: Responds to basic medical emergencies; takes/records vital signs; provides pre/post-operative instructions; maintains a field of operation during dental procedures-uses retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing/removing cotton rolls; uses four-handed dentistry concepts, assists with basic restorative methods; mixes basic dental materials; helps prepare laboratory prescription forms; applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses; exposes/processes basic dental radiographs; mounts/labels dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records; evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality; maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in a dental assistant or dental hygiene program that included at least 24 semester hours 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(b) practical nurse training approved by the appropriate State, territory, or District of Columbia accrediting body. OR Possess a combination of education and experience that when combined fully meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The total percentage equals at least 100 percent to qualify for this GS-4 grade level. Special Requirements for GS-5 and above Dental Assistant (Expanded Function): Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) positions must have completed l 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. 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.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

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.

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 White River Service Unit PO Box 860 White River, AZ 85941 US
• Name: Jenny Vasquez
• Email: [email protected]