Summary The Primary purpose of the position is for the fabrication of conventional dental prosthesis. This position is under the supervision of a staff Prosthodontist; however, the incumbent is given wide latitude in the accomplishment of the numerous duties consistent with the incumbent's expertise. This position is located in the Dental Service in Garland, Texas. Responsibilities A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. Duties include but not limited to: Removable Prosthodontics Fabricate removable dental restorations utilizing American Dental Association (ADA) approved dental materials supplied by the laboratory supervisor. Fabricate and prepare removable dental casts to include pouring, trimming, cast mounting, and cast equilibration and/or modification as requested by the prescribing dentist. Fabricate removable dental devices to aid in all steps of fabrication of removable partial dentures, complete dentures, record bases, occlusal rims, occlusal night guards, athletic mouth guards, orthodontic appliances, radiograph stents, implant stents, provisional stints, maxillofacial prostheses, and additional devices using new ADA approved materials used for removable dental restorations as requested by the prescribing dentist. Fabricate removable dental restorations by setting teeth and waxing to full contour for esthetic wax try in as requested by the prescribing dentist. General Coordinates with the laboratory supervisor to assure that the workload is balanced. Makes adjustments to accommodate timely completion and revises work priorities and deadlines within the section to assure such adjustments do not increase production time or jeopardize the service rendered. Maintains continuing awareness of work in progress and provides necessary technical guidance. Participates in meetings with the supervisor over other functional areas or the laboratory to coordinate and work out matters affecting priorities and procedures. Provides the laboratory supervisor with estimates of requirements for supplies and equipment based upon past and anticipated use for expected workload. Fixed Prosthodontics Fabricate fixed dental restorations utilizing American Dental Association (ADA) approved dental materials supplied by the laboratory supervisor. Fabricate and prepare fixed dental casts to include pouring, trimming, pinning, sectioning, die preparation, die margin trimming, die spacer application, cast mounting, and cast equilibration as requested by the prescribing dentist. Fabricate fixed dental restorations to include all metal, metal ceramic, all ceramic both cad/cam and pressable, aluminous core, zirconia core, feldspathic core and additional new ADA approved materials used for fixed dental restorations as requested by the prescribing dentist. Fabricate fixed dental restorations for dental implants utilizing prefab copings, custom milled substructures, and/or conventional wax up techniques. Fabricate fixed dental restorations by waxing to full contour following the esthetic contour of adjacent natural dentition for correct contour of arch, if no existing natural dentition, then follow accepted ADA and Peter K. Thomas anatomy and then cut back for porcelain to maintain proper porcelain thickness. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Dental Laboratory Technician - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive/PD094730 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/25/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements: Use of dental laboratory material such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials. Use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment. Use of precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers. Construction of dental prosthetic appliances. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Knowledge of oral anatomy- to fabricate the full range of conventional dental prosthesis. Knowledge of laboratory procedures involving acrylic, dental stones, gold and waxes, and is familiar with the use of laboratory equipment. Knowledge of OSHA guidelines for sterilization of dental prosthesis. Knowledge of dental laboratory tools and skill in their use. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Technical Competence Technical Problem Solving Communication Compliance Inspections Attention to Detail Customer Service 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Dental Laboratory Technicians requires prolonged periods of standing or sitting, depending on the task. It also utilizes optical magnification which may cause eye strain. Extensive hand gripping of an electric rotary hand piece or dental lab instrument is a daily activity. Proper pen grasp, palm grasp and fulcrum techniques are required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.