Dental Hygienist

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.

01Basic Requirements

Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Education - 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 - 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.

02Certification

Public Law 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.

Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure, may be given a temporary appointment, not to exceed two years, as a graduate dental hygienist pending certification (GS-5 level only). Grandfathering Provision: 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).

03Grade Determinations

GS-05 Dental Hygienist (Entry Level Developmental): No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements. GS-06 Dental Hygienist: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of oral prophylactic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures for periodontal diseases, or inflammation, or on patients with other medical and/or dental problems. Knowledge of dental methods and techniques used in performing intra and extra oral procedures. Ability to use communication techniques to encourage and inform individuals and groups.

GS-07 Dental Hygienist: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of oral pathology to include disease of the hard and soft tissues, disorders of tooth structure, developmental and congenital anomalies, salivary gland disorders, symptoms of infectious disorders, and appropriate protocols. Practical knowledge of medical diseases, conditions, and chronic degenerative diseases as they relate to dental health and treatment.

Knowledge of radiographic exposure techniques to produce radiographs of high diagnostic quality. GS-08 Dental Hygienist: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-08 you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) and fully meet the following KSAs at the GS-07 level. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of state-of-the-art preventive dentistry measures for patient instruction and training.

Knowledge of anatomy and physiology in order to interpret the examination request accurately; to understand the functioning and interrelationship of the various anatomical structures appearing on the radiographic image and the various stages of the examination to judge the acceptability of the radiograph for diagnostic use; and to present for viewing. Knowledge of The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and related regulations and guidelines pertaining to dental matters.

Skill in providing individual and group oral health care instructions to inpatients, outpatients, Nursing Home Care Unit patients, etc. GS-09 Dental Hygienist (Full Performance Level): In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09 you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08) and fully meet the following KSAs at the GS-08 level. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, 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.

04Preferred Experience

Experience working with patients with multiple co-morbidities within last 6 months 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-09.

05Physical Requirements

Daily intermittent walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, and carrying of lightweight items required. Rigid deadlines and need for high degree of accuracy periodically becomes stressful.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Hygiene Patient Care Provide assistance to customers, provide service recovery (i.e. returning patient phone calls in a timely manner) Work collaboratively with co-workers and other medical center staff Set up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Handle instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently Provide routine dental prophylaxis, which may include supra and subgingival scaling of teeth and polishing of coronal and/or exposed surfaces of teeth Application of fluoride Debridement and/or root planing of teeth Scaling excessive cement from the surfaces of teeth and restorations Clean dental prostheses, fixed and removable Manage dental hygiene recall system Perform clinical examinations and diagnostic tests of teeth and surrounding tissues including but not limited to restorative chartings, peridodontal chartings, missing teeth chartings, caries chartings, caries activity tests, cytology smears, salivary analysis and smears, endodontic cultures, vitality tests, and recording findings for interpretation by a supervising dentist taking intra- and extra-oral photographs Applying topical anesthetics Applying topical anticariogenic agent Chairside Assisting (as needed) Employ proper techniques and dexterity in the practice of 4-handed dentistry Keep operative field clear of debris and improve access by retracting oral tissues effectively and comfortably Prepare dental medicaments and materials per manufacturers instructions Follow standard infection control protocols Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, prosthodontics, endodontics, and periodontics Dental Lab Functions (as needed) Pour impressions and prepares study models Fabricates custom impression trays Fabricates bite rims Polishes prostheses Pours, pins, and sections crown and bridge models/dies Fabricates vacuum-formed stents, soft mouth guards and fluoride trays Mounts casts on articulators Direct Patient Care (as needed) Take impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris, without the use of rotating or power-driven instruments Cement and fabricate temporary crowns/bridges with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Placing and removing temporary restorations by a non-powered method with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Take intra- and extra oral photographs Apply topical anesthetic agents with prior approval by the supervising dentist Holding and removing materials, trays, strips, and sutures previously placed in the patients mouth by the dentist Apply cavity liners and bases with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Inserting and adjusting athletic mouth guards, bleaching trays, and fluoride trays with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Place and remove rubber dams and matrix bands Dental Imaging Exposure of radiographs of the mouth, gums, jaws, teeth, and any portion thereof for dental diagnosis with the interpretation by dentist Utilize dental imaging safety techniques Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in set-up and clean-up of operatory Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards Assist in maintenance and cleanliness of dental equipment/ environment Clerical Functions Assist in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and missed appointments Assist patients in scheduling appointments Chart findings, treatment plans by the dentist, and treatment provided in patient records Provide backup support for clerical duties such as patient check-ins, recall, and other duties typically assigned to a clerk Work Schedule: Part-Time, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:00am-4:30pm (24 hours per week) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized