Summary The Charleston VA Healthcare Network is seeking a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant. The candidate will perform advanced dental assisting duties with greater scope, complexity, and clinical responsibility. Working under indirect supervision from a lead dental assistant, supervisor, or dentist, the incumbent provides routine patient care and independently performs selected expanded-function procedures.
Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Major duties may include, but are not limited to:
Expanded Function Duties
- Perform mouth mirror inspections of the oral cavity.
- Gather diagnostic information.
- Conduct pulp vitality testing.
- Chart existing restorations and oral conditions.
- Select shades for fixed and removable prostheses.
- Place and remove rubber dams, matrix bands, retraction cords & intracoronal temporary restorations.
- Remove temporary crowns/bridges and clean tooth preparations.
- Fabricate, adjust, and cement temporary crowns.
- Remove excess permanent cement from supragingival surface, sutures & surgical dressings.
- Monitor nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia.
- Perform coronal polishing of teeth.
Customer Service
- Provide courteous, respectful, and professional service to patients, coworkers, and the public.
- Address customer questions and concerns.
- Deliver effective service recovery when needed.
Chairside Assisting
- Prepare operatories and dental units for procedures.
- Safely and efficiently pass instruments during procedures.
- Maintain a clear operative field and retract oral tissues comfortably.
- Prepare dental materials according to manufacturer instructions.
- Follow infection control standards during procedures.
- Assist with general and specialty dental procedures, including:
- Oral surgery
- Endodontics
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
- Implant placement and restoration
- Maintain routine and specialty dental equipment.
Dental Imaging
- Expose standard and specialty dental radiographs, including:
- TMJ imaging
- Cephalometric imaging
- Cone beam imaging
- Adjust imaging settings to achieve diagnostic-quality images.
- Ensure proper image orientation and exposure.
- Follow radiation safety protocols and minimize retakes.
- Complete imaging requests within established timeframes.
Infection Control & Sterilization
- Follow infection control procedures when setting up and breaking down operatories.
- Disinfect oral appliances to prevent cross-contamination.
- Prepare instruments for sterilization through SPD.
- Adhere to all Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) procedures.
- Coordinate with SPD to maintain instrument availability.
- Apply infection control standards during dental imaging procedures.
Clerical Functions
- Assist patients with appointment scheduling.
- Fill schedule gaps caused by cancellations and no-shows.
- Initiate computerized progress notes.
- Assist dentists with charting findings and treatment plans.
Information Management
- Maintain HIPAA compliance and patient confidentiality.
- Follow computer and information security requirements.
Patient Safety
- Adapt patient care based on age, mobility, and functional abilities.
- Provide clear and understandable instructions.
- Participate in patient identification and time-out procedures.
- Monitor patients for signs of physical distress during treatment.
Employee Education
- Complete mandatory employee education requirements.
- Attend annual safety and compliance training.
Dental Laboratory Functions
- Pour impressions and prepare study models.
- Fabricate final denture impression trays and bite rims.
- Create athletic mouthguards and bleaching trays.
- Perform additional laboratory procedures as needed and qualified.
Direct Patient Care
- Monitor and record vital signs, including:
- Blood pressure
- Pulse
- Pulse oximetry
- Observe patients during invasive procedures and recovery.
- Apply topical anesthetics.
- Apply fluoride treatments.
- Take diagnostic and preliminary prosthetic impressions.
- Remove plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses.
- Provide preventive dental education and oral hygiene instruction.
- Deliver postoperative and patient care instructions.
Work Schedule: Mon-Fri | 6:30am -3:00pm
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): 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 (Appointment Above the Minimum Rate).
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 #:56246F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Citizenship
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified U.S. candidates are not available, in accordance with VA policy.
English Language Proficiency
- Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Experience and Education
Applicants must meet one of the following:
- Experience: Six months of experience demonstrating the ability to perform dental assistant duties or familiarity with the work; or
- Education: Successful completion of a one-year Dental Assistant program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); or
- Combination: Equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience.
Certification Requirements
- Must meet radiologic competency requirements established under Public Law 97-35 and 42 CFR Part 75.
- Qualifying methods include:
- Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination (DANB); or
- Successful completion of VA-approved Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations; or
- Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program approved by a State Board of Dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).
Additional Certifications
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is highly desirable.
- Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification (required)
Grandfathering Provision
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including certification (for positions above the full performance level) that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
• Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS
GS-7 Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant
At this level, the dental assistant will serve as a Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant.
For all positions above the full performance level, duties must be assigned to the position at least 25% of the time.
(a) Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant
- Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
a. Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions.
b. Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc).
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 will be selected for this vacancy is GS-07.
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019Education 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/.Requirements
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.How you will be evaluated IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.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 11/12/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13103691.
- 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. Other information The Charleston VA & its CBOC's are committed to hiring a diverse workforce from various backgrounds and individuals who demonstrate a diversity, equity and inclusion-related mindset and behaviors. We are strongly seeking candidates who represent the full range of cultural and identity factors including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation/identity, gender identity and expression, age, language, abilities/disabilities, socioeconomic status, religion, spiritual practices, geographic region, and other characteristics.
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
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.