Summary

The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the supervision of the dentist and senior hygienist and performs other clinical and clerical functions

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a Citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C 7407(a) - Administrative Provisions for Section 7405 and 7406 Appointments
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education
• Applicants must possess an Associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program
• The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Approved programs are: (1) Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• (2) Education completed outside of the United States must be considered at least equivalent to that gained in CODA accredited United States programs and would enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination - which is administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations
• Licensure/Certification Licensure
• Applicants must be currently licensed to practice as a dental hygienist with a full - current and unrestricted license in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Certification
• P.L
• 97-35 - Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1981 - requires persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75 - Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for and the Credentialing of Radiologic Personnel
• To meet this requirement - they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Accredited dental hygiene programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers
• Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist
• (a) Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B) - Temporary Full Time Appointments - Part-Time Appointments and Without-Compensation Appointments for a Period Not to Exceed Two Years
• (b) Non-certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a certified dental hygienist at or above the full performance level
• (c) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (d) Temporary appointments of non-certified dental hygienist may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: Dental Hygienist GS-09 Experience
• At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-8) that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i
• Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication - complications and expected treatment outcomes for each
• ii
• Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment - radiation safety - assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films
• iii
• Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application
• iv
• Skill in detecting plaque and calculus - dental abnormalities/pathologies - assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure
• v
• Skill in educating patients and caregivers on periodontal disease - wellness - health maintenance - oral hygiene practices - parafunctional habits - and effects of illness - addictions - medications and tobacco on the oral cavity
• vi
• Ability to assess the patient's medical - dental - anxiety/phobias - medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care
• vii
• Ability to assess the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health - recognize age-related changes in individual patients - adapt patient environment - and maximize patient's physical comfort
• Assignments
• Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level
• They provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist
• Assignments at this level include but are not limited to patient medical assessment (e.g
• medical/dental history - social history - vital signs - full periodontal assessment and charting) - disease and treatment management recommendations - denture care - scaling and root planing - radiographs/image interpretation - patient education (e.g
• post-procedure - 7 tobacco cessation - caries and perio-disease prevention) - behavior management - management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors) - instrument sharpening - inter-service communication 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-9. Physical Requirements: Light lifting
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• repeated bending
• mental and emotional stability Environmental Factors: Outside and inside
• constant noise
• working closely with others

Duties

• Major Duties and Responsibilities Customer Service - Shows courtesy - respect - and a positive attitude for patients - coworkers - and the public - Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns - provides service recovery Patient Care - Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover - Handles instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently - Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions - Provides gross debridement - Provides scaling/root planning and periodontal supportive treatment - Works with Staff Periodontist on the treatment and recall of periodontal patients - Cleans dental prostheses - fixed and removable - Manages dental recall system - referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed - Applies desensitizing and sealant materials as directed by the dentist - Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays - Administers topical anesthetics - Administers local anesthetic consistent with care being provided - Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols Patient Education - Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition - Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to patients and caregivers Dental Imaging - Characterizes images by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed - Uses dental imaging safety techniques and minimizes retakes Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization - Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory - Prepares instruments for sterilization by SPS standards - Prepares instruments in a manner that does not delay clinical care - Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Clerical Functions - Assists patients in scheduling appointments - Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments - Charts findings - treatment plans - and treatment provided in patient records Information Management - Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information - Follows computer security regulations h
• Patient Safety - Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position) - Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients - Participates in patient identification and time out per VA/Joint Commission requirements - Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress Employee Education - Complies with Employee Education and TMS requirements - Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Work Schedule: Mon-Fr 0700-1530 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized