The Dental Hygienist provides clerical patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. this may include provision of service via phone or Tele Dentistry approach. 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.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Performs examinations, applies topical agents such as fluoride and antibiotics, plans periodontal treatment and provides patient education related to dental hygiene Administers oral prophylactic and dental hygiene treatment to patients presenting a variety of conditions Performs procedures, such as medical and dental history review to search for evidence of past and present conditions which may complicate or alter dental hygiene treatment Reviews patient's dietary habits and instructs patients in self-care therapy and proper diet as they relate to oral health Examines the teeth and surrounding tissues for evidence of plaque and periodontal disease and charts findings Inspects the oral cavity and pharynx for evidence of disease, such as oral cancer Interprets routine radiographs to identify anatomical structures, subgingival calculus, caries and periodontal pockets Prepares dental hygiene treatment plans including assessment of the problem, type of oral hygiene care required, and the sequence of appointments needed to complete treatment Performs a complete oral prophylaxis on ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients Performs subgingival scaling, root planning and curettage under local anesthesia Administers local anesthetics Polishes the teeth and applies fluoride for hypersensitivity and caries prevention Applies locally delivered antibiotics in periodontal pockets when indicated Desensitizes root surfaces, removes sutures, and gives post treatment instructions Takes impressions for study casts, night guards and TMJ appliances Instructs patients at chairside in oral hygiene, brushing, flossing techniques and the proper use of periodontal aids Cleans, sharpens and sends all hygiene instruments to SPS for sterilization Keeps operatory supplied with all necessary equipment, instruments and disposable supplies needed for the proper treatment of patients Electronically enters conditions of the teeth and oral tissues, progress notes, appointments and the type of treatment administered by way of the CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System) and the DRM (Dental Record Manager) programs Work Schedule: Saturday 8-4:30 Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 05977F

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. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education and/or Experience: 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.] License/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. 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Dental Hygienist Experience: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level of GS-08 that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. 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, inter-service communication. 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: 1 year of dental hygiene experience preferred. Reference: FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G37 EFFECTIVE DATE: July 23, 2021 For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 9. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

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

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Charmaine Runne
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]