The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the Dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. The hygienist enhances the dentist's capabilities by assuming preventive dentistry procedures, and performing periodontal intervention, which can be delegated. The duties and responsibilities of this position are primarily performed in the Dental Clinic, but may also be performed on the various wards.

Duties

Develops oral care plans to meet the needs of different patient groups Interacts with ward and clinic level staffs, especially nursing staff, to promote oral health, and to solve oral hygiene delivery for problem patients. Suggests adaptive devices for handicapped patients. Especially targeted are new nursing personnel for demonstrations, and on-the-job training in daily oral hygiene care. May make ward rounds. Provides information for multidisciplinary treatment team meetings Monitors the effectiveness of the Oral Health Preventive Dentistry Program and gathers data on oral hygiene performance. Follows up with identified problems, e.g., patients, wards, clinics, to assist staff to develop more effective programs for oral health Recognizes intra-oral pathology, including soft-tissue lesions, chronic and acute periodontal conditions and caries, and refers the patient to a dentist for definitive diagnosis or treatment Is familiar with and adheres to Dental Service's infection control policy. Between the treatment of patients, sharpens instruments, cleans and disinfects the dental unit, chair, and work area. Performs routine preventive maintenance in the dental treatment room. Is familiar with, and operates the applicable medical center's computer system programs, and adheres to the medical center's computer security procedures Performs preventive, prophylactic, and other patient care procedures for inpatients and outpatients, and performs related duties Removes sub and supra gingival calculus using hand and ultrasonic instruments and cleans and polishes teeth and dental prostheses Provides patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients and caregivers Records treatment performed in the Dental Record Manager (DRM) system, as well as, in the patients' records Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Schedules patients efficiently. Contacts patients through established procedures to fill vacant times in the schedule. Maintains patient confidentiality per Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position) Participates in patient identification and time out per The Joint Commission requirements Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients Monitors patient condition during treatment; being alert for signs of physical distress Complies with Employee Education requirements Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Work Schedule: 8 or 10 hour shifts Compressed/Flexible:Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment as a Dental Hygienist, all applicants must possess the following: A. 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. B. 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. C. 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. Public Law 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. (3) Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist. (a) 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. (b) Non-certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a certified dental hygienist at or above the full performance level. (c) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level, GS-05 and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (d) Temporary appointments of non-certified dental hygienist may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. D. English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined above, the following criteria must be met when determining the applicable grade of applicants. Dental Hygienist, GS-05: (a) Experience. None, beyond the basic requirements. Dental Hygienist, GS-06: (a) Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level, GS-05. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of oral prophylactic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures for periodontal diseases, or inflammation, or on patients with other medical and/or dental problems. Knowledge of dental methods and techniques used in performing intra and extra oral procedures. Ability to use communication techniques to encourage and inform individuals and groups. Dental Hygienist, GS-07: (a) Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level, GS-06 that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. (b) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of oral pathology to include disease of the hard and soft tissues, disorders of tooth structure, developmental and congenital anomalies, salivary gland disorders, symptoms of infectious disorders, and appropriate protocols. Practical knowledge of medical diseases, conditions, and chronic degenerative diseases as they relate to dental health and treatment. Knowledge of radiographic exposure techniques to produce radiographs of high diagnostic quality. Dental Hygienist, GS-08: (a) Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level, GS-07 that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. (b) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-07 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. Dental Hygienist, GS-09: (a) Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level, GS-08 that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. (b) Demonstrated KSAs. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/146 Part II, Appendix G37, Dated July 23, 2021 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-09. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

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).

Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

(1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
(3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Contacts

• Address Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 South Lincoln Avenue Lebanon, PA 17042 US
• Name: Yalonda Smith
• Phone: 7202018666
• Email: [email protected]