Dental Hygienist

01Basic Requirements

Licensure: Must be currently licensed to practice as dental hygienists in a State or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. 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: 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.

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.

NOTE: ALL applicants MUST submit proof of current, active and unrestricted license for verification. Applicants MUST ALSO submit evidence of completing a program that certifies them to administer X-rays or perform radiologic procedures. Evidence of program completion includes a transcript or documentation that includes your course work in administering X-rays or performing radiologic procedures. Self-certification of program completion will not be accepted.

Your documentation MUST be uploaded at the time you apply to the vacancy announcement. AND Experience: Applicants must have one-year specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must include 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.

02Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.

03Experience

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: Experience assisting with performing pre- and post-operative dental procedures, including sterilizing operative environment. Experience performing administrative duties related to the provision of dental care including scheduling patients, preparing call-outs as necessary, and pulling and filing medical records, and recording treatment. Experience assisting with taking simple intra-oral dental radiographs.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities. Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.

Responsible planning and directing the preventive dental health program. Instructs patients in oral health care and for the administration of oral prophylaxis. Develop various teaching aids and preventive methods for the inmate population. Instructs patients, individually and in groups, in proper oral hygiene care using materials such as teeth models, displays, disclosing solutions, toothbrushes, and floss.

Demonstrates proper techniques of brushing and flossing using toothbrushes, floss threaders, Perio-Aids, Proxabrushes, etc. Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.