Community Health Dental Hygienist

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience.

You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Individual Occupational Requirements Basic Requirements: Licensure: Applicants for all grade levels and specializations must be currently licensed to practice as dental hygienists in a State or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (l) 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 (2) be certified as radiographers in their field.

The following meet these requirements: (l) Persons employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel prior to the effective date of the regulation (January 13, 1986) who show evidence of current or fully satisfactory performance or certification of such from a licensed practitioner such as a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic who prescribes radiologic procedures to others. (2) Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation, or (b) practiced in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not license that particular field or did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program, provided that such persons show evidence of training, experience, and competence as determined by OPM or the employing agency.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels and positions for which both education and experience are acceptable. Evaluation of Education: The academic curriculum in dental hygiene must have been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association.

Evaluation of Experience: When combining experience and education, appropriate supplemental experience for entry level Community Health Dental Hygienist must have demonstrated the ability to: Plan and direct group activities. Organize, analyze, and evaluate data, draw conclusions, and make decisions or recommendations. Express ideas and communicate information orally and in writing in a clear, logical, and motivating manner. Demonstrate and/or present new ideas, techniques, and procedures.

Conduct meetings and present lectures. Deal effectively with individuals and groups. Examples of work that may have provided this experience include work as a teacher, recreation leader, or leader in a community or professional organization. Evaluation of Specialized Experience: Qualifying experience for clinical dental hygienists includes experience in performing oral prophylactic care and in providing oral health educational services to patients.

Additionally, at the higher grade levels, qualifying experience includes (1) performing advanced oral prophylactic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures in cases of periodontal diseases or inflammation or on patients with other medical or dental problems, (2) placing temporary fillings, and (3) finishing amalgam restorations. Applicants for positions involving the use of X-rays must have had experience in taking and interpreting X-rays.

Qualifying experience for community health dental hygienists includes experience in preparing and conducting educational lectures and demonstrations on dental hygiene, planning public health programs, providing advice and policy guidance to dental personnel on public health matters, and recommending improved methods of dental hygiene. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

01MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Plan and evaluate preventive health programs for patient groups. Develop and revise instructional material.

Administer oral prophylactic and dental hygiene treatments; performing prophylactic, periodontal, and preventive dental procedures in the treatment of patients with related medical and dental problems such as: diabetic complications, compromising heart disease, dental caries, and periodontal disease. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level.

Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Responsible for ascertaining the oral health status of the population regarding periodontal and other oral conditions using a variety of screening and information gathering methods. Establish relationships with local community partners to coordinate dental education and preventative services for the community. Plans, coordinates, and evaluates appropriate oral health programs for special population groups (aged, homebound, handicapped, youth, special needs, etc.).

Provides nutritional counseling for control of dental disease, stressing dietary habits as a part of treatment and control of periodontal disease and caries