Summary

The Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Outpatient Clinic is recruiting for a Dental Hygienist within Dental Service. The incumbent will provide expert hygienic dental care and management of patients in an outpatient dental clinic to the veteran population.

Qualifications

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
• 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: Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• 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 2 programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-09: Experience: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level 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: Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication - complications and expected treatment outcomes for each
• Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment - radiation safety - assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films
• Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application
• Skill in detecting plaque and calculus - dental abnormalities/pathologies - assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure
• 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
• Ability to assess the patient's medical - dental - anxiety/phobias - medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care
• 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
• Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of practice experience as a Dental Hygienist 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-09
• Physical Requirements: Work requires some physical exertion such as sitting - standing and bending for long periods of time
• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally - or 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects is required
• Some patients may be confined to a stretcher or wheelchair and it may be necessary to treat them in an awkward position
• Incumbent must use good ergonomic technique and good safe practices.

Duties

• The Dental Hygienist duties include: Treating oral hygiene patients and advising and counseling such patients on proper oral health maintenance
• Performing as a clinician and educational specialist providing therapeutic and preventive procedures on patients with a variety of conditions such as complicated medical histories - extreme apprehension - mental disorders and xerostomia
• Referring patients to appropriate dentist for consultation or treatment as necessary
• Setting up operatory for planned procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover strictly following clinical Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• Establishing work process(es) to support responses to all customer inquiries within 48-72 hours
• Handling instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently
• Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions or varnish
• Providing gross debridement - scaling and root planning procedures
• Performing subgingival scaling - root planning after verifying a full charting and periodontal exam have been completed upon referral by staff dentist
• Managing the dental recall system - ensuring continuity of care and proper referrals within the dental team
• Serving as support both to staff periodontist in advanced cases and to implantologist in the maintenance of endosseous dental implants
• Cleaning dental prostheses - fixed and removable Administering topical anesthetic agents
• Preparing anesthetic syringe as needed for dentist
• Administering local anesthetic - if licensed to provide local anesthetic
• Removing sutures as needed
• Accomplishing all procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Providing patient education that is appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition
• Providing individual and group oral health care instruction to patients and caregivers
• Taking radiographic images that are characterized by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed correctly
• Once the decision to obtain radiographs is made - they should attend to the ALARA (As low as reasonably achievable) principle and use best practices regarding exposure and patient shielding
• Images are reviewed by the dentist and retakes are done as directed
• Demonstrating proper infection control procedures in exposing images
• Utilizing dental imaging safety techniques - and retakes are minimized
• Preparing instruments properly for sterilization
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m
• to 4:00 p.m
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement: Dental Assistant / 91928-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required