The incumbent assigned to this position will be an instrumental part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) Dental Service and be expected to perform at a performance level Dental Hygienist, GS-0682-09; Entry Level.

Duties

Employees at this level serve as staff Dental Hygienists at the full performance level. It is expected that they provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: patient medical assessment (e.g. medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting), disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planning, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (e.g. post-procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and perio-disease prevention, behavior management, management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors) instrument sharpening and inter-service communication. Customer Service - Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public. Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery. Patient Care - Sets up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Assists with initial or recall exam by taking radiographs and performing full mouth probing. Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions. Provides gross debridement, deep scaling, and curettage and root planning procedures. Cleans dental prosthesis, fixed and removable. Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed. Applies desensitizing and sealant materials. Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays. Administers topical anesthetic agents and accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols. Seven (7) clinical visits in an eight (8) hour day. Patient Education - Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition and document in CPRS. Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatient, and caregivers. Dental Imaging - Images are taken (as ordered by a Dentist) and characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday / 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Dental Hygienist - GS-0682-09 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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.] 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 programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. Grandfathering Provision. 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). 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. 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: 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i. Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each. ii. Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films. iii. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application. iv. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure. v. 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. vi. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care. vii. 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: -3 to 5 Years Preferred Experiences in dental hygiene. -Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standard dental procedures used in dental hygiene and periodontal care and procedures. -Ability to assess patient medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting. -Ability to provide disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planning. -Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist. -Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats and radiograph/image interpretation. -Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. References: VA Handbook 5005/146 July 23, 2021 PART II APPENDIX G37. DENTAL HYGIENIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0682 Veterans Health Administration July 23, 2021. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Use of fingers; Walking (4 hours); Standing (4 hours); Specific visual requirement (DVA & NVA Binocular 20/20); Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Mental & Emotional stability

Education

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

Note: The associate degree or higher degree must be fully accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from: Find a Program (ada.org)

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Note: If your school was accredited by American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the: American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA): Find a Program (ada.org) website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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.

Contacts

• Address Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]