Dental Assistant (EF)

About the role

Join the Indian Health Service as an experienced Expanded Function Dental Assistant. Use your expertise in chairside assisting, restorative procedures, radiography, infection control, and patient education to deliver culturally respectful, high-quality care while improving oral health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Responsibilities

• Help restores teeth after preparation has been accomplished.
• Provides chairside assisting and fully anticipates dentist's need for various instruments, materials, and service.
• Prepares materials and equipment for use by the Dentist.
• Performs a variety of intra-oral procedures (as directed by the Dentist) such as oral prophylaxis, operates cavitron, applies pit and fissure sealants, removes temporary fillings, and cements stainless steel crowns.
• Performs radiological procedures and performs dental laboratory procedures, pours and trims models, fabricates custom trays and bite rims, mounts casts on articulator, and pours final impressions.
• Receives and prepares patients for dental treatments.
• Maintains records related to appointments, examinations, treatment, and supplies.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirement: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards, which are set forth in 42 CFR Part 75.
• Minimum Qualifications:
  • GS-05: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service performing the following type of work and/or tasks.
    • Providing chairside assistance during dental procedures;
    • Performing simple alloy and composite restorations that do not require pin retention or cusp replacement;
    • Placing and contouring temporary restorations;
    • Placing pit and fissure sealants;
    • Performing oral prophylaxis using ultrasonic scaling to remove visible calculus;
    • Applying topical fluoride;
    • Taking and processing digital intra-oral radiographs;
    • Taking and recording vital signs;
    • Collecting patient history and assisting with medication reconciliation;
    • Performing routine dental laboratory procedures;
    • Providing post-treatment instructions and oral health education;
    • Maintaining dental instruments and equipment;
    • Following established infection control, sterilization, and safety protocols.
  • OR Education: Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in dental assistant or dental hygiene program.
  • OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience and education that meets 100 percent of the qualification requirements.