Community Health Dental Hygienist

US Indian Health Service; Camp Verde (AZ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Indian Health Service seeks a Community Health Dental Hygienist to improve oral health in American Indian communities. You will provide preventive care, screenings, and education while upholding safety and professional standards.

You must be licensed as a dental hygienist in the United States, meet radiological certification requirements, and be prepared to obtain privileges with medical staff as needed. This Federal role emphasizes service, ethics, and community wellness.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of specialized experience in dental hygiene or equivalent public/private sector experience.
• Educational lectures and demonstrations in dental hygiene experience is preferred.
• Accredited CODA program background is required for the curriculum in dental hygiene.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and conduct educational lectures and demonstrations on dental hygiene.
• Plan and implement preventive oral public health programs.
• Provide advice and policy guidance to dental personnel on public health matters.
• Recommend improved methods of dental hygiene.
• Perform full range of preventive and periodontal dental hygiene procedures and create treatment plans.

Education

Master's degree in dental hygiene

Graduate education equivalent in dental hygiene

Job description

Join the Indian Health Service as a Community Health Dental Hygienists and support quality healthcare services for American Indian communities. Guided by our mission to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you will help deliver safe and effective dental services while creating healthy smiles, restoring confidence, and promoting overall wellness in the communities we serve.

A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

The Hiring Manager/Selecting Official may elect to utilize an available flexibility wherein applicants who are currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain the required licensure/certification/registration within 9 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S)

License: Applicants for all grade levels must be currently licensed to practice as dental hygienists in a State or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Radiological Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (1) 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 (2) be certified as radiographers in their field. The following meet these requirements:

1. Persons employed by the Federal Government as radiological personnel prior to the effective date of the regulation (January 13, 1986) who show evidence of current or fully satisfactory performance or certification of such from a licensed practitioner such as a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic who prescribes radiological procedures to others.
2. Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiological personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation, or (b) practiced in a State of foreign jurisdiction that did not license that particular field or did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program, provided that such persons show evidence of training, experience, and competence as determined by OPM or the employing agency.

In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below-

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: prepare and conduct educational lectures and demonstrations on dental hygiene; plan and implement preventive oral public health program; provide advice and policy guidance to dental personnel on public health matters; recommend improved methods of dental hygiene; and perform full range of preventive and periodontal dental hygiene procedures, such as conduct preliminary dental screenings, provide oral prophylaxis and hygiene treatment for patients with abnormal conditions (such as patients with cancer of the head/neck/chest area, diabetic patients, patients with blood disorders and heart disease, etc.), and develop individualized dental hygiene treatment plans based on patient needs, oral conditions, and required sequence of care.

OR

Completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Master's of equivalent degree in dental hygiene or a directly related field of study;

OR

Combination of education and experience.

The academic curriculum in dental hygiene must have been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association.

The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cut-off day of rating to be eligible for consideration.