Dental Officer Series, 0680

Individual Occupational Requirements

Basic Requirements

Education

Applicants must have a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from a school approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) or the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Licensure

Applicants must have passed the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE) which are developed and administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) and possess a current, full, and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. 

Applicants who meet the above basic requirements qualify for the GS-11 grade level.

Experience

In addition to meeting the above education and licensure requirements, applicants must have one or more full years of experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing professional dentistry work for GS-12 level and above assignments. 

Qualifying experience involves the evaluation, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, injuries, and disorders of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area.  Examples of dentistry experience may include the removal of decay; filling cavities; straightening, extracting, and repairing teeth; treating gum diseases; performing corrective surgery; making measurements/models for dentures to replace missing teeth, administering anesthetics, writing prescriptions; and performing other requirements of the position.

Some dentists specialize in an area, such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Endodontics
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Dental Public Health

For the above specialty areas, experience, education, board certification, and/or training must clearly establish the applicant’s status as a specialist. Agencies should review the applicant's experience to determine the types and difficulty of the cases dealt with, the level of knowledge and understanding of the specialization regularly required, the extent of diagnostic skills and treatment planning ability involved, and the pertinent graduate study acquired.

Additional Requirements for the GS-12 (or equivalent) Grade Level

In addition to the above Basic Requirements for the GS-11 (or equivalent) level, applicants must complete a 2-year residency program in dentistry, oral health, craniofacial sciences, or a related medical science;  or equivalent experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level,  and/or training.

Additional Requirements for the GS-13 (or equivalent) Grade Level

In addition to the above Basic Requirements for the GS-12 (or equivalent) level, applicants must complete a 3-year residency program in dentistry, oral health, craniofacial sciences, or a related medical science; or equivalent experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level,  and/or training.

Additional Requirements for the GS-14 (or equivalent) Grade Level

In addition to the above Basic Requirements for the GS-13 (or equivalent) level, applicants must complete one  year of full-time experience in professional dentistry work that is equivalent to the next lower grade level; or equivalent experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level,  and/or training.

Additional Requirements for the GS-15 (or equivalent) Grade Level

In addition to the above Basic Requirements for the GS-14 (or equivalent) level, applicants must complete one year of professional dentistry work that is equivalent to the next lower grade level; or equivalent experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level,  and/or training.

Medical Requirements

Applicants must be able to distinguish shades of color.