Launch Your Career as a Dental Assistant at Fort Sill
Are you a dental professional looking to transition into a stable and rewarding career with the federal government? The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is currently hiring Dental Assistants to work at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This role offers the chance to provide essential support to military personnel and their families while working in an integrated, high-standard healthcare environment.
Job Responsibilities
As a Dental Assistant, your duties are diverse and central to the clinic's operation:
- Chair-side Assistance: Providing direct support to dentists during procedures, including placing rubber dams and matrix bands.
- Radiology: Operating dental X-ray equipment to capture high-quality intra and extra-oral images.
- Patient Care: Instructing patients on oral hygiene, documenting medical histories, and ensuring patients are comfortable.
- Clinical Maintenance: Maintaining dental equipment and ensuring the workspace is sanitary and well-stocked.
Requirements
To qualify for this position, you must meet several key criteria:
- Education: A two-year dental assistant or dental hygiene program degree from an accredited institution.
- Certification: You must hold a valid Radiology Certification in compliance with 42 CFR Part 75.
- Experience: A combination of six months of general experience and six months of specialized chair-side dental experience.
- Documentation: All applicants must provide transcripts and proof of certification.
Salary and Benefits
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Salary Range | $36,409 - $47,334 |
| Location | Fort Sill, OK |
| Benefits | Health, Life, Retirement, Leave |
Application Tips
To ensure your application stands out, follow these steps:
- Respect the Limit: Keep your resume to exactly two pages. Longer resumes will be discarded.
- Be Specific: For each job entry, detail the month and year of employment and average hours worked.
- Use Plain English: Explain your clinical tasks clearly so that an HR specialist can easily map your experience to the job requirements.
Joining the DHA at Fort Sill offers a unique blend of professional challenge and public service. If you meet the qualifications, we encourage you to prepare your documents and apply today to become part of our dedicated medical team.
Why This Dental Assistant Job Matters
Launch your career in federal healthcare with the Defense Health Agency at Fort Sill, where you will provide essential dental care to our nation's heroes and their families.
Dental Assistant Job Overview
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is seeking dedicated Dental Assistants to join our medical team at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This position plays a critical role in supporting mission readiness by providing high-quality dental care to military personnel, retirees, and their families. As an open continuous announcement, we are looking for skilled professionals to fill multiple vacancies on an as-needed basis. If you are passionate about clinical excellence and public service, this is a unique opportunity to contribute to a world-class integrated healthcare system.
Requirements for Dental Assistant
- U.S. Citizenship is mandatory.
- Completion of a two-year accredited dental assistant or dental hygiene program OR a combination of education and experience totaling at least 100%.
- Current Radiology Certification as required by 42 CFR Part 75.
- Minimum of six months of general experience and six months of specialized experience in chair-side dental assistance.
- Must maintain a professional resume of two pages or less.
- Successful completion of a 1-year probationary period.
- Ability to work in a team-based, patient-centered environment.
Preferred Qualifications for Dental Assistant
- Strong communication skills for patient education regarding dental hygiene.
- Technical proficiency with intra and extra-oral X-ray equipment.
- Experience in maintaining dental supplies and clinical equipment cleanliness.
- Prior experience in federal dental or medical environments.
Federal Benefits & Perks
- ✓Competitive federal salary with potential for locality pay adjustments.
- ✓Comprehensive health and life insurance options.
- ✓Retirement savings plans (FERS/TSP).
- ✓Paid federal holidays and leave accrual.
- ✓Potential for recruitment or relocation incentives for qualified candidates.
- ✓Professional development and training opportunities within the Department of Defense.
💡 How to Apply Dental Assistant Job & Insider Tips
Application Steps for Dental Assistant Job
- Create or log in to your account at USAJOBS.
- Prepare a resume that is strictly two pages or less, detailing your relevant clinical experience.
- Gather supporting documentation, including transcripts and your radiology license/certification.
- Complete the online questionnaire through the application portal.
- Upload all required documents and submit your application package before the closing date.
- Monitor your application status through the online applicant dashboard.
💡 General Tips
- Ensure your resume includes dates (month/year) and hours worked per week for every position listed.
- Use plain language and avoid industry jargon that might be misunderstood by non-clinical HR reviewers.
- Double-check that your radiology certification is clearly uploaded, as missing this will result in automatic disqualification.
- Submit early to allow for the system's virus-scan period.
- Verify that your uploaded documents have not been truncated or corrupted during the upload process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Direct Hire position?
A Direct Hire authority allows the agency to appoint candidates directly to positions when there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need, bypassing traditional competitive rating and ranking procedures.
Can I submit a resume longer than two pages?
No. The system will automatically remove any applications containing resumes longer than two pages from consideration.
Is a security clearance required for this role?
No, a security clearance is not required for this position.
Do I need a security clearance?
No, this role does not require a security clearance.
What if my education is foreign?
If you have a foreign degree, you must provide an evaluation from an authorized private organization showing its equivalency to a U.S. program.
Job from Military Treatment Facilities Under Dha
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is a joint, integrated combat support agency that enables the military medical services to provide a medically ready force. By delivering healthcare services across the Department of Defense, the DHA serves more than 9.5 million uniformed service members and their families worldwide. Working here means you are part of a massive team dedicated to global health readiness and excellence.