This Dental Assistant position is in Dental Services at the VA Bedford Healthcare Systems, located at the Bedford, MA location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.
This position serves as staff dental assistant for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist. Performs assigned selected procedures with independence. Some complex patient procedures may be performed under indirect supervision of more experienced dental assistants or supervisory dental assistant.
Duties include but are not limited to: Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant placement and restoration. Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e Panorex, cone beam) in digital formats. Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider.
Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories. Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination. Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records. Provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction. Provides post-operative and any appropriate patient education.
Removes sutures and periodontal surgical dressing. Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow. Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions, and Performs other related duties. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:45am-4:15pm. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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 Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: F01812/F01813/F01814/F01815 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.
Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
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/.
Jessenia.Plaza@va.gov · (781) 473-6094
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $36735 – $66857/yr.
Applications close on 2026-10-02.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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