Dental Hygienist
Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. It is expected that 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. DUTIES INCLUDE:
- Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover - Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently - Assesses patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities- Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health - Recognizes age-related changes in individual patients, adapt patient environment, and maximize patient's physical comfort - Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of appropriate fluoride solutions - Provides gross debridement, scaling and root planning procedures - Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable - Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed - Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays - Administers topical anesthetic agents Work Schedule:
7:
30am-4:
00pm (Monday-Friday) Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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:
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Associate Degree or higher in an accredited dental hygiene program. This program must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 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. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, 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 which will meet the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. 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). Preferred
Experience:
One year or more of relevant experience in the dental industry. Grade Determinations:
GS-9 At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. The candidate must demonstrate the following clinical competencies:
1. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities for safe patient care; 2. 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; 3. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure; 4. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application; 5. Knowledge of hygiene procedures in order to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each; 6. Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films; and 7. 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. References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G37 Physical Requirements:
Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment is required and the physical ability sufficient to maneuver in small areas. The ability to stand, sit and reach is required.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
- Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover - Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently - Assesses patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities- Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health - Recognizes age-related changes in individual patients, adapt patient environment, and maximize patient's physical comfort - Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of appropriate fluoride solutions - Provides gross debridement, scaling and root planning procedures - Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable - Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed - Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays - Administers topical anesthetic agents Work Schedule:
7:
30am-4:
00pm (Monday-Friday) Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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:
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Associate Degree or higher in an accredited dental hygiene program. This program must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 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. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, 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 which will meet the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. 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). Preferred
Experience:
One year or more of relevant experience in the dental industry. Grade Determinations:
GS-9 At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. The candidate must demonstrate the following clinical competencies:
1. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities for safe patient care; 2. 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; 3. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure; 4. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application; 5. Knowledge of hygiene procedures in order to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each; 6. Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films; and 7. 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. References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G37 Physical Requirements:
Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment is required and the physical ability sufficient to maneuver in small areas. The ability to stand, sit and reach is required.
- Department:
0682 Dental Hygiene - Salary Range:
$56,354 to $73,261 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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