This position is located in Dental Service at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, in Detroit Michigan. The primary purpose of this position is to function as a fully qualified and experienced dental lab technician. His/her advice is sought on a regular basis by staff dentists, dental students and residents, and dental staff.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/26/2025. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-08. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-8) in the Federal Service, that has given me the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Dental Laboratory Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Experience should include 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; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances. At this grade level, qualifying specialized experience also includes: experience constructing porcelain or acrylic fixed or semi-fixed bridge restorations, full or removable partial dentures, or orthodontic appliances, or dental splints and obturators, when the construction of the appliance is complicated because of the unusual nature or intricacy of the design required to overcome acute abnormalities; applying a thorough technical knowledge of both normal and abnormal oral anatomy and dentition as these affect the design, fabrication, function, and esthetics of the dental prosthesis being constructed. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR EDUCATION: Successful completion of two (2) full years of graduate education or a master's degree that is directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position. Such graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Licensed professional dentists will be considered qualified for any grade level if they have, in the aggregate, the required experience in dental laboratory procedures. (Transcripts, unofficial or official, must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.) OR COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully complete graduate education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Technical Competence: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on the job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Quality Assurance: Knowledge of principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance and quality control used to ensure a product fulfills functional requirements and standards. Analytical Thinking: Solves problems/issues quickly and effectively, involving a methodical step-by-step approach to thinking; breaks down complex problems into single and manageable components and considering each part in detail; Makes a systematic comparison of various alternatives; Notices discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information; Identifies a set of features, parameters, or Applies Technology to Tasks: Selects and understands procedures, machines, or tools that will produce the desired results; identifies or solves problems in machines, computers, or other technologies as they are related to performing tasks. Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures. 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. Physical Requirements: No unusual physical demands are required. The position entails light physical exercise (mostly sedentary at a laboratory workbench), and some walking, standing, bending, and/or carrying of light objects. However, a high degree of manual dexterity and concentration is necessary to the safe and successful completion of these duties. 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/.
Major duties include: Properly perform all technician work concerning the fabrication and repair of various dental prosthesis necessary in treating routine cases and those acute abnormalities of the mouth. Such appliances will include, but be not limited to: Removable full and partial dentures, Inlay/onlays, Crowns, Fixed partial dentures, Other special appliance, CAD-CAM laboratory dental appliances. Conforms to the dentist's prescription, restores proper occlusion and adequate mastication, facilitates normal speech, maintains and/or re-establishes normal facial contours, exhibits a natural and esthetic appearance, and provides the maximum comfort possible. Checks for the presence of a dentist's prescription. Inspects final impressions for bubbles, broken segments or other deficiencies. Constructs base plates and bite rims using acceptable technical procedures. Set artificial teeth for full or partial dentures. Occasionally, fabricates special prosthesis such as orthodontic appliances. Constructs removable stone and electroplated copper dies for use in fabricating crowns, inlays, or fixed bridges. Constructs single crowns, fixed bridges, and post and core appliances from precious and semi-precious metals. Packs dental cases for shipment to C.D.L. Receives, unpacks, and properly records all dental cases returned. Maintains proper sterile technique in the laboratory. Inventories and initiates orders as required to maintain an adequate level of the dental materials and laboratory supplies necessary for performing his/her duties Acts to see that appropriate preventive maintenance is provided for the laboratory equipment under his/her care. Provides guidance as necessary to lower graded technicians. Provides and coordinates laboratory support as necessary for dental section research projects. Occasionally, may be required to give additional help or assistance when necessary for good patient care. Operates dental CAD-CAM systems including scanning, designing, and milling of relevant dental restorations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Dental LaboratoryTechnician/PD09127A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized