Staff Dental Assistant

Staff Dental Assistant

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Houston, Texas

Salary Range: $52368 - $68078 Per Year

Job Summary: The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) is seeking a Staff Dental Assistant to work in the Dental Service. This position will be located in Houston, TX. Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants at the full performance level for more routine patient care and perform some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.

Major Duties:

• The duties of the Staff Dental Assistant in Dental Service include, but are not limited to: Responds to basic medical emergencies. Measures and records vital signs. Provides pre-and postoperative instructions. Maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls. Using the concepts of fourhanded dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures. Mixes basic dental materials. Assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms. Applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses. Exposes and processes basic dental radiographs. Mounts and 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. Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably. Prepares dental medicaments and impression material per manufacturer's instructions. Works closely with the Lead Dental Assistants to comply with Employee Education requirements and complete all mandatory annual safety training sessions. Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, ceph, cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats. Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider. Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame. Shares comprehensive working knowledge of imaging techniques and provides instruction to others. Place contaminated instruments in bins for sterilization by SPS verifying the correct instruments are in each kit. In addition, must ensure all dental assistants are following proper protocol. Must disinfect all impressions and prostheses before taking them to the dental laboratory. Make accurate entries into the VistA or CPRS data base and Dental Record Manager Plus. Possess basic knowledge in all areas of dentistry including but not limited to, General Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontic, Endodontics, and other areas if called upon to perform these tasks in emergency situations. Places appropriate instruments and materials in the operatory for the identified procedure so there is no break in the treatment to retrieve something that was not available. Passes instruments according to the technique developed for dentist. In addition, keeps field clear for operation, free of debris, water and/or blood. Recognize the signs and symptoms of a medical emergency and to provide the dentist with appropriate armamentaria at his/her request or their own initiative. The recognizable dental emergencies or urgencies would include but not be limited to heart attack, choking on foreign bodies, syncope, vomiting or urination. Work Schedule (Subject to change based on the needs of the facility): Monday: 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday: OFF; Wednesday: 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Thursday 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Sunday: OFF. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 580-02282-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR, Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Certification. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must 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 be certified as radiographers in their field. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence (a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR, (b) Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry. OR, (c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD). Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable. Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level and is required for all positions above the full performance level. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This will result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment. Grade Determinations: GS-6, Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level) Experience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to identify normal oral anatomy. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures. Preferred Experience: Chair-side Assisting. Knowledge of planned dental procedures. Ability to pass instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently (four-handed dentistry). Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within the standard infection control protocols. Dental Imaging. Independently exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e., TMJ, Ceph, Cone Beam) in traditional and/or digital formats. The dental assistant must take clinically acceptable x-rays. Knowledge of Nomad Portable X-ray Devices. Ability to correctly mount images correctly in CPRS/DRM Plus System within the desired timeframe and minimize retakes. Floater Dental Assistant. The ability to work independent multiple providers daily in a fast-paced Environment. Customer Service. Meets the needs of customers and effectively communicate dental terminology with customer and dental team. Effectively interacts in a professional & courteous manner with supervisor and other employees to facilitate the accomplishment of the work of the organization. Specialty Clinics. Must have working knowledge in all areas of dentistry including General, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Endodontics and other areas if called to perform. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/01/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12935587. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-01