Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for an Dental Hygienist. The Dental Hygienist will function in Dental Service.

Qualifications

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
• English Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education: 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: 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: Certification of Radiologic Competence - Public Law 97-35 35 - Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1981 - requires persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75 - Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for and the Credentialing of Radiologic Personnel
• To fulfill this requirement - you must meet one of the following: Successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in this regulation - and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Successfully completed an accredited dental hygiene program containing curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meeting the requirement for certification as dental radiographers
• A current VHA Employee in this occupation and covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard
• 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 that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
• Those competencies include: 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 KSAs for the GS-8 level - the candidate must demonstrate the following: 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 maintaining oral health - recognize age-related changes in individual patients - adapt patient environment - and maximize patient's physical comfort
• Preferred Experience: Required input by service Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09
• Physical Requirements: Required input by service

Duties

• Incumbent performs as clinician and education specialist providing therapeutic and preventive procedures for all levels of patients - including advanced periodontal disease complicated by other medical problems
• Incumbent makes a determination as to which treatment to perform
• Upon referral by staff dentists - performs subgingival scaling - root planning and gingival curettage treatment to patients presenting with a variety of abnormal conditions such as extreme apprehension - mental disorders - and xerostomia
• In the case of advanced periodontal disease - administers local anesthetic (per state license) or prepares anesthetic syringe for delivery to treated tissues by staff dentist
• Serves as chief support both to staff periodontist in advanced cases and to implantologist in the maintenance of endosseous dental implants
• Performs additional procedures such as taking and developing dental radiographs - recording medical and dental histories - reviewing patient's dietary habits - administering caries prevention agents - desensitizing root surfaces - taking impressions for study casts - removing sutures - and instructing the patients in home care therapy and proper diet as these relate to oral health
• Incumbent plans - coordinates and conducts oral health programs for various patient groups including residents residing in the Community Living Center or domiciliary
• Instructs nurses and support staff on how to perform oral hygiene techniques to best meet the needs of the patients
• Responsible for the development - coordination - administration - evaluation - and modification of the Preventive Dentistry program at this facility
• Develops and revises oral health instruction materials and educational techniques for patients with varied levels of dental knowledge and educational background
• Incumbent uses resources available within the outpatient clinic and from internet sources as well as from professional journals
• From these the incumbent plans objectives and develops programs for preventive dentistry lectures and demonstrations
• Incumbent also plans visual displays for the benefit of patient groups and clinic personnel
• Incumbent schedules and treats oral hygiene patients and advises and counsels such patients on proper oral health maintenance
• Treatment of patients includes prophylaxis - dietary planning - oral hygiene instruction - root planning and scaling - and referral to appropriate dentist for consultation or treatment as necessary
• Oversees the dental hygiene recall program
• Treats medically compromised patients at the VAMC Dental Service
• Clinical work is increased during periods of increased clinical workload affecting the health issues of the veteran and active duty patients treated at this facility
• Incumbent is responsible for the management of all veteran patients whose dental care is adjunct to a service connected medical condition
• Incumbent works closely with a VA physician (or a designee) to regularly monitor these patients for approval or denial of benefits based upon current management of the service connected medical condition
• Incumbent tests and recommends new dental hygiene products
• Research current dental literature to remain up to date on current dental techniques in the field of dental hygiene
• Regularly attends various committees and meetings in support of VAMC and Dental Service goals and initiatives
• Monitors and evaluates infection control practices - particularly as they relate to dental hygiene - and reports infection control findings to the Chief - Dental Service
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday to Friday Compressed/Flexible: Compressed schedule available at supervisor discretion Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 541-94131-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized