Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
Individual Occupational Requirements
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:

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.

Specialized Experience(for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience in dental assistance to general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position being filled.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
GS-04 Grade Level: Your resume must demonstrate 6 months of general experience that demonstrates the ability to perform or a familiarity with patient scheduling; and dental terminology to ensure accurate recording of dental treatment; AND 6 months of specialized experience in dental assistance to general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position being filled. Examples include: Experience setting up for and assisting dental procedures; providing oral hygiene and post-operative instructions; providing point of care cleaning, disinfection, and instrument/equipment maintenance; Treating basic cases of gingivitis, utilizing ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments. Restore class I posterior restorations, complete coronal polishing and placing fluoride. Inventory management; documenting in an electronic dental record; taking radiographs and mounting them in an electronic dental record; monitoring dental patients and providing general hygiene education. 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; dark room and processing techniques; and film mounting; OR Combination of experience and post-high school education. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position.

GS-05 Grade Level: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Examples include: In addition to the GS-04 grade level examples; Ability to fabricate single unit temporary restorations, placing hemostatic agents. Providing point of care cleaning, disinfection, and instrument/equipment maintenance; inventory management; documenting in an electronic dental record; taking radiographs and mounting them in an electronic dental record; monitoring dental patients; experience providing direct patient care services and patient education on dental procedures; experience working with children under the age of 4. 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 courses as shown above for GS-3. OR Combination of experience and post-high school education. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position.

Expanded Function Experience Examples GS-05: In addition to GS-04/05 dental assistant examples; Ability to treat moderate cases of gingivitis with mild to moderate supra gingival calculus utilizing ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments, provide specific hygiene education on adjuncts. Restore class I and II posterior and anterior restorations, place cavity liners and provide patient education on deep fillings.

GS-06 Grade Level: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Examples include: In addition to the GS-05 grade level examples; ability to treat severe cases of gingivitis with moderate to severe supra gingival calculus ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments, provide specific hygiene education on adjuncts and medications to treat gingival disease. Complete cuspal coverage restorations, fabricate multiple unit temporary restorations, ability to educate patient on post-operative pain management and infection control. Monitoring dental patients; experience providing direct patient care services; experience working with children under the age of 4; performs simple prophys and periodontal debridements; places temporary fillings.

Special Requirements (Expanded Function):Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) position must have completed 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 by the closing date of the announcement.