Dental Hygienist (Advanced Clinical)

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) — a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

• Citizenship: Must 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).
• Education: 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 the course of study was completed. Approved programs are those accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Education completed outside the United States must be considered at least equivalent to CODA-accredited U.S. programs and must enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations). Current VHA employees in this occupation may qualify under the Grandfathering Provision per the VA Qualification Standard.
• Licensure/Certification:
  • Current, full, unrestricted license to practice as a dental hygienist in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
  • Per P.L. 97-35 (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981), persons who administer radiologic procedures must meet credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. Part 75. This requires successful completion of an accredited educational program recognized by the Department of Education and certification as radiographers. Accredited dental hygiene programs with curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meet the requirement for certification as dental radiographers.
• Grandfathering Provision: Individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series (or performing these duties) on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including education and licensure/certification. Specific provisions apply for reassignment, promotion limits, temporary appointments, conversion to Title 38 hybrid status, and maintenance of credentials.

Grade Determinations: Dental Hygienist — GS-10 (Advanced Clinical)

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09; the actual grade for selection is GS-10.

• Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) directly related to the position, fully meeting the KSAs at that level.
• Required KSAs (GS-09 level):
  • Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain process, indications, complications, and expected treatment outcomes.
  • Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture, and interpretation of films.
  • Knowledge to select appropriate 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.
  • 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 medical and dental conditions on maintaining oral health, recognize age-related changes, adapt the patient environment, and maximize physical comfort.
• Additional KSAs for GS-10 (Advanced Clinical):
  • Knowledge of medical assessment techniques including interviewing and evaluating clinical findings (e.g., normal and critical lab values) to adapt treatment based on medical and psychological issues.
  • Advanced knowledge of oral and dental anatomy including root anatomy, common pathologies and anomalies, and indications for advanced radiographic imaging and proper technique to detect potential abnormalities.
  • Knowledge of medical treatment adjuncts and indications and the ability to safely administer medicaments (e.g., intrasulcular medicaments, local anesthesia, sulcular lavage, applying and removing periodontal surgical dressing).
  • Knowledge of advanced adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, indications for use, and ability to utilize safely (e.g., sonic, magnetostrictive ultrasonic, and piezo ultrasonic scalers).
  • Skill in providing safe and thorough prophylaxis, root planing, and soft-tissue curettage for complex periodontal and/or restorative cases, and skill in providing safe care for patients with complex medical/psychiatric issues.
  • Ability to apply adult education techniques/methods, organize curriculum, judge cognitive ability, and provide healthcare education regarding relationships between medical and dental pathologies to groups, interdisciplinary staff, and other outside contacts.

Reference: VA Qualification Standards

Physical Requirements

See Handbook 5019.

Duties

Dental hygienists at this level are advanced-level practitioners in assigned areas. The dental hygienist provides direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently, working closely with a dentist, periodontist, or other specialists. Higher-level duties are performed at least 25% of the time and consist of significant scope, complexity, and variety.

Functions / Scopes of Practice

• Advanced patient assessments/clinical evaluations (blood glucose levels, medication reconciliation, oral cancer screening, dietary analysis for caries risk, pulse oximetry, comprehensive periodontal charting).
• Prophylaxis in complex restorative cases.
• Utilizes advanced medical assessment techniques (interviewing patients and evaluating clinical findings such as normal and critical lab values) and adapts treatment based on medical and psychological issues.

Patient Care

• Review medical history.
• Set up operatory for planned dental procedure and clean dental unit for timely turnover.
• Prepare instruments in a manner that does not delay clinical care.
• Handle instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Provide gross debridement, deep scaling, and root planing procedures.
• Clean dental prostheses (fixed and removable).
• Apply desensitizing and sealant materials.
• Administer topical and injectable local anesthetic agents.
• Perform oral screenings of inpatients on wards and coordinate dental care as necessary.
• Ensure productivity is maintained at the established level.
• Manage dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed.

Dental Imaging

• Take diagnostic quality images that are accurately oriented and exposed.
• Utilize dental-imaging safety techniques with minimal retakes.

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization

• Demonstrate proper infection-control procedures in setting up and cleaning up.
• Properly prepare instruments for sterilization by SPS standards.
• Prepare instruments in a manner that does not delay clinical care.

Clerical Functions

• Direct MSA team on patient scheduling through Return to Clinic Orders.
• Assist in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments.

Information Management

• Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.
• Follow computer security regulations.

Patient Safety

• Modify care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and positioning).
• Participate in patient identification and time-out per TJC requirements.
• Provide patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition.
• Explain hygiene procedures, indications, complications, and expected outcomes to individual patients and caregivers.

Employee Education

• Comply with Employee Education requirements.
• Complete mandatory annual training sessions.
• Maintain all continuing education requirements for professional licensure, certifications, etc.

Schedule

Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 3:00 pm.

Telework

Not available. This is not a virtual position.