Dental Hygienist

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) & 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 ineligible to apply.

Responsibilities

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions
• Provides gross debridement
• Provide scaling/root planning and periodontal supportive treatment
• Work with Staff Periodontist on the treatment and recall of periodontal patients
• Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable
• Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed
• Applies desensitizing and sealant materials as directed by the dentist
• Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays
• Administers topical anesthetic agents
• Administer local anesthetic consistent with care being provided
• Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols

Requirements

• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 4:30pm
• Compressed/Flexible: Available upon request
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Qualifications

• BASIC REQUIREMENTS
• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
• Education. Associate Degree or higher in an accredited dental hygiene program. This program must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
• 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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

Grade Requirements

• GS-5 Dental Hygienist Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-6 Dental Hygienist Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).
• GS-7 Dental Hygienist Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
• GS-8 Dental Hygienist Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
• GS-9 Dental Hygienist Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.