Dental Hygienist

Summary

This Dental Hygienist position is part of a multidisciplinary dental team providing care to Veterans across multiple sites in Gainesville - Jacksonville and Tallahassee. The dental hygienist is an integral member of the dental treatment team and performs a wide variety of interventions that contribute to the overall oral health of Veterans. The work requires professional knowledge in the field of dental hygiene and the biomedical sciences that relate to dentistry.

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. English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d). 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-Documentation Submitted. 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-Documentation Submitted. 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 hygiene programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers.

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. GS-09 Dental Hygienist Grade Determinations:
Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-08) that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. KSAs at the GS-08 grade level are:
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. Demonstrated Knowledge
- Skills and Abilities

. In addition to meeting the experience at the GS-08 level - 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…