Community Health Dental Hygienist

The Indian Health Service; Madison Heights (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Indian Health Service in the United States seeks a Community Health Dental Hygienist to deliver preventive and clinical dental services within clinics, schools, and community settings. You will perform screenings, radiographs, and periodontal assessments, while educating patients and families in effective oral hygiene practices.

The position emphasizes culturally appropriate outreach, program planning, and serving as the advisor for dental health promotion across the service unit.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced prophylactic, periodontal, and preventive oral care for patients of all ages.
• Conduct preliminary dental screenings and review patient medical/dental histories.
• Perform intraoral and extraoral examinations, including periodontal charting, oral cancer screening, and evaluation of soft/hard tissues.
• Capture and interpret digital dental radiographs within scope; identify periodontal status, caries, calculus, bone levels, and abnormalities for dentist review.
• Instruct patients, families, staff, and community partners in oral hygiene techniques using demonstrations and culturally appropriate materials.
• Plan, deliver, evaluate, and document preventive oral health programs across clinics, schools, and communities.
• Serve as principal advisor for dental health promotion and disease prevention efforts across the service unit.

Skills

Dental hygiene

Job description

Summary

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.

Summary

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).

Duties

Help

• Provide advanced prophylactic, periodontal, and preventive oral care for patients of all ages.
• Conducts preliminary dental screenings and reviews patient medical/dental histories.
• Performs intraoral and extraoral examinations, including periodontal charting, oral cancer screening, and evaluation of soft/hard tissues for evidence of disease or pathology.
• Captures and interprets digital dental radiographs within scope; identifies periodontal status, caries, calculus, bone levels, and abnormalities for dentist review.
• Instructs patients, families, staff, and community partners in oral hygiene techniques using demonstrations, visual aids, and culturally appropriate materials.
• Plan, deliver, evaluate, and document preventive oral health programs that enhance population health. The program offers preventive, diagnostic, restorative, periodontal outreach services in clinics, schools, and community settings.
• Serves as principal advisor for dental health promotion and disease prevention efforts across the service unit.

Requirements: (Continued)

IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance. This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period.

U.S. Citizenship is required.

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Physical Demands: Long periods of sitting, standing, bending, and lifting portable equipment.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement

This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment. A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other