Job Summary

The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist & performs other clinical & clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Work closely with, & under the general direction of a dentist. Plans, coordinate, & conduct preventive oral health programs for various patient groups, caregivers, & healthcare providers; develop & modify instructional methods; & develop methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the preventive dentistry program.

Job Description

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. English Language Proficiency: Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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: (1) Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). (2) 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: (1) 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. (2) 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 & 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. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials 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 Dental Hygienist, GS-09 Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-8) that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Assignment (GS-8) Employees at this level serve as developmental level 3 dental hygienists with the ability to perform direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist. It is expected that they receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: patient assessments (e.g. risk assessments, oral health assessments), prevention recommendations, prophylaxis, periodontal treatment for mild to moderate disease (e.g. scaling and root planning, full mouth debridement), Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) radiograph/image capture, fluoride treatment application, topical anesthesia administration and management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors). 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 & 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 & calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure. Skill in educating patients & caregivers on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, & effects of illness, addictions, medications & tobacco on the oral cavity. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications & comorbidities to administer safe patient care. Ability to assess the impact of patient's medical & dental condition on maintaining oral health, recognize age-related changes in individual patients, adapt patient environment, & maximize patient's physical comfort. Preferred Experience: The ideal candidate has at least 1 year of experience providing comprehensive preventive and periodontal care in a fast-paced dental clinic, including proficiency with local anesthesia (where authorized), advanced periodontal instrumentation, and patient education tailored to Veterans' needs. They demonstrate consistently high efficiency and accuracy in clinical documentation, use of electronic dental records, imaging, and consult/scheduling workflows, and are comfortable navigating VA or comparable health care systems. The preferred candidate brings a calm, professional, and solutions-focused approach to the workday, contributes positively to team dynamics, and maintains respectful, clear communication with patients, providers, and support staff even under pressure. Experience coordinating care with multiple providers and services, participating in quality improvement or infection control initiatives, and supporting clinic throughput and access goals is strongly desired. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting & carrying, reaching above shoulders; use of fingers & both hands for fine motor control; walking, standing, sitting, repeated bending for extended periods of time while performing dental work; ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to visualize clearly teeth, intraoral structures, & the fine details of dental radiographs.