• Job Description

  Req#: 836888400
  The Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Outpatient Clinic is recruiting for a Dental Hygienist within Dental Service. The incumbent will provide expert hygienic dental care and management of patients in an outpatient dental clinic to the veteran population.
  
  
  Duties
  
  
  The Dental Hygienist duties include:
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  
  
  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: Be a Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C § 7407(a), Administrative Provisions for Section 7405 and 7406 Appointments.
  • 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 hygiene 2 programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers.
  • English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
  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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
  
  GS-09:
  • Experience: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
  • 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 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:
  • At least 2 years of practice experience as a Dental Hygienist
  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.
  
  Physical Requirements: Work requires some physical exertion such as sitting, standing and bending for long periods of time. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, or 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects is required. Some patients may be confined to a stretcher or wheelchair and it may be necessary to treat them in an awkward position. Incumbent must use good ergonomic technique and good safe practices.

• About the company

  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with integrating life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 1700 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.

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