Dental Hygienist

About the role

The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa is seeking a full-time Dental Hygienist to join the Surgical Care department at the Lincoln VA Clinic in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Responsibilities

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Performs dental prophylaxis and periodontal maintenance procedures using hand and ultrasonic instruments, including gross debridement, curettage, scaling & root planning, tooth polishing, and application of topical fluoride solutions
• 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
• Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays
• Administers topical and/or local anesthetic agents (per state license)
• Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Conducts head and neck examinations and completes intraoral inspections of the hard and soft tissue, seeking consultation with the dentist for abnormal findings
• Keeps operatory supplied with necessary equipment, instruments, and disposable supplies
• Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition
• Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instructions to inpatients, outpatients, and caregivers
• Exposes prescribed radiographs with diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed, utilizing dental imaging safety techniques and minimizing retakes
• Maintains integrity of instruments with proper routine sharpening and maintenance per manufacturer instructions
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up the operatory
• Wears appropriate protective attire and ensures patient eye protection during procedures
• Affords assistance in scheduling appointments via VA scheduling software
• Fills gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records accurately, coding for type of treatment administered electronically through VA charting system

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, Associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program, full and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and successful completion of an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in 42 C.F.R. Part 75 and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and certification as a dental radiographer if required by state law.

Qualifications

• Experience: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-5) for GS-05; at least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-6) for GS-06; at least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-7) for GS-07; at least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-8) for GS-08; and at least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-9) for GS-09.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Demonstrated knowledge of oral prophylactic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures for periodontal diseases, 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; 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; knowledge of state-of-the-art preventive dentistry measures for patient instruction and training; knowledge of anatomy and physiology to interpret examination requests accurately, understand the functioning and interrelationship of various anatomical structures appearing on radiographic images, and various stages of examinations to judge the acceptability of radiographs 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.; 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.

Skills

• Knowledge of oral prophylactic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures for periodontal diseases, 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
• 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
• Knowledge of state-of-the-art preventive dentistry measures for patient instruction and training
• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology to interpret examination requests accurately, understand the functioning and interrelationship of various anatomical structures appearing on radiographic images, and various stages of examinations to judge the acceptability of radiographs 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.
• 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

Benefits

• May be authorized for relocation/relocation incentives for highly qualified candidates

Pay

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 3.b., the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates

Schedule

Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm

Virtual

This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

May be authorized for highly qualified applicants

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Not Authorized