Dental Hygienist- Advanced Clinical Dental Hygienist

Summary

The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist - performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Employees work closely with under the general direction of a dentist/ periodontist. Employees plan - coordinate& conduct preventive oral health programs for various patient groups - caregivers& healthcare providers; develop& modify instructional methods& develop methods for evaluating the effectiveness.

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.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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:
  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/Certification 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
• 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 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 hygiene3 programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers
• Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist
• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B) - Temporary Full
  - Time Appointments - Part-Time Appointments and Without-Compensation Appointments for a Period Not to Exceed Two Years
• Non-certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a certified dental hygienist at or above the full performance level
• Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-certified dental hygienist may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - dental hygienists must actively pursue meeting requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the dental hygienist supervisor will provide the dental hygienist with the written requirements for licensure/certification - including the time by which the licensure/certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Management officials will remove dental hygienists from their positions who fail to obtain licensure/certification during this time period - which may result in termination of employment Loss of Credential
• Management officials will remove dental hygienists from their positions who fail to maintain the required licensure/certification - which may also result in termination of employment
• May qualify based on being covered by the…