Staff Dentist

Summary The incumbent is expected to support an excellent patient experience by delivering respectful, timely, and Veteran-centered care; explaining findings, treatment options, risks, benefits, and alternatives in language patients can understand; and promoting shared decision-making throughout treatment. The dentist will communicate with professionalism and compassion, respond appropriately to patient concerns, and work with the dental team to improve access, continuity and comfort with care. Learn more about this agency Duties The Dentist functions as a privileged Licensed Independent Practitioner within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and is responsible for providing comprehensive oral health care to eligible Veterans consistent with approved clinical privileges, professional standards, and local facility policy. This position is intended for a dentist whose scope includes comprehensive dental care for medically complex patients, maintenance of a moderate sedation permit as required by local and state law, and supervision of dental residents in an accredited training environment. The attending dentist has primary responsibility for the care of assigned patients and for appropriate oversight of residents involved in patient care. CORE SCOPE OF CLINICAL PRACTICE The incumbent may evaluate, diagnose, treatment plan, and provide general dental care and other procedures specifically authorized through credentialing and privileging processes at the facility. Practice may include comprehensive dental treatment for medically compromised patients in ambulatory, hospital-based, and, in some cases, operating room settings. The dentist is expected to accept full responsibility for the proper care and treatment of assigned patients and to maintain accepted standards of professional care in VA facilities. MODERATE SEDATION RESPONSIBILITIES The incumbent must possess and maintain an active moderate sedation permit when required by the jurisdiction and facility, and may provide moderate sedation only when separately trained, privileged, and compliant with applicable policy, equipment, staffing, monitoring, emergency preparedness, and documentation requirements. RESIDENT SUPERVISION AND TEACHING This position includes service as an attending dentist in a facility conducting residency training programs. VA qualification standards provide that attending dentists must be able to train residents assigned to the service and must possess privileges to perform all procedures being supervised. RESPONSIBILITIES - Provides comprehensive, patient-centered general dental care, including examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of the full scope of general dentistry procedures, with referrals to dental and medical specialists when indicated. - Evaluates, diagnoses, and treats diseases and conditions of the teeth, periodontium, jaws, oral soft tissues, and related oral structures, and manages patient pain and anxiety through appropriate administration and monitoring of medications and anesthetic agents. - Delivers dental care to patients with complex medical conditions, including those requiring treatment under anesthesia, collaborates with other health professionals to optimize overall health, and ensures clear, timely, and accurate documentation of clinical findings, decisions, and treatment in the electronic health record. INTERDISCIPLINARY AND TEAM-BASED PRACTICE The incumbent is expected to function effectively in an interdisciplinary, team-based environment and to collaborate with dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, expanded function dental auxiliaries where applicable, residents, students, schedulers, nursing personnel, anesthesia or operating room staff as appropriate, and other health professionals in the coordination of Veteran care. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: 5/4/9 Tour: Monday through Thursday, 7:30am to 5:00pm, Every other Friday 7:45am to 4:15pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Dentist Basic Requirements A degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery or dental medicine resulting from a course of education in dentistry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are (1) United States and Canadian schools of dentistry listed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation(CODA), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.(2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia as qualifying for full and unrestricted licensure provided the licensure requirements include a written examination measuring science achievement and a performance examination measuring clinical competence certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. ~AND~ Completed, or you are currently completing, a residency program in general practice or specialty, or comparable experience as a dentist actively involved in treating medically compromised patients. ~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a current, full and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Note: Dentists must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. Preferred Experience: Preferred experience includes successful completion of a General Practice Residency (GPR) or comparable advanced postdoctoral training, with strong preference given to dentists who have developed broad clinical competence in hospital-based or medically complex patient care environments. VA qualification standards specifically recognize completion of an approved residency in general practice or specialty training, and VA GPR programs emphasize advanced training in comprehensive care for medically compromised patients. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a proven ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary, team-based clinic environment, partnering effectively with dentists, hygienists, assistants, trainees, administrative staff, and other health professionals to deliver high-quality care to Veterans. VA training materials and supervision policy stress coordinated care, communication with other health care professionals, and shared responsibility for quality and safety in patient care. Preferred candidates should also have experience supervising, teaching, and mentoring dental residents, with the ability to provide appropriate clinical oversight, foster progressive resident development, and maintain accountability for patient care and treatment quality. VA standards for dentists specifically reference the ability to train residents, and VHA supervision policy describes resident education as an organized program of guidance, evaluation, and supervision tied to patient care quality. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which may require light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (up to 1 hour), standing (up to 1 hour), and both legs required. In addition, there may be exposure to the following environmental factors: working inside and outside, working closely with others, and protracted or irregular hours of work. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy. There may be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.