Dental Hygienist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Wilmington VA Clinic seeks a Dental Hygienist to provide direct patient care under general supervision and guidance from supervisory staff for complex cases. The role requires meeting licensure, education, and radiography standards, with a focus on periodontal maintenance and patient education.

Responsibilities include preparing operatory, performing prophylaxis and X-ray procedures, and ensuring infection control while coordinating recalls and patient education.

Qualifications

• Must possess an Associate degree or higher in dental hygiene.
• Current licensure to practice as a dental hygienist in the United States.
• CODA-accredited dental hygiene program required.
• Education completed that allows sitting for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.

Responsibilities

• Prepare operatory and dental unit for procedures and maintain infection control.
• Perform dental prophylaxis, periodontal maintenance, scaling and root planing, and polishing.
• Take radiographs with high diagnostic quality and ensure proper exposure.
• Educate patients and caregivers on periodontal health, wellness, and oral hygiene practices.
• Assist with scheduling, recalls, and coordination of patient care as needed.

Skills

Dental hygiene procedures

Radiography

Patient education

Infection control

Communication

Education

Associate degree in dental hygiene

CODA accreditation

Active state licensure for dental hygiene

Tools

Dental radiography equipment

Job description

Summary

The Dental Hygienist at the Wilmington VA Clinic provides direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist.

Summary

The Dental Hygienist at the Wilmington VA Clinic provides direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Education: Applicants must possess an 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 in which the course of study was completed
• Approved programs are: Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• 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
• 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
• Certification
• P.L
• 97-35 - Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1981 - requires persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75 - Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for and the Credentialing of Radiologic Personnel
• To meet this requirement - they must 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 be certified as radiographers in their field
• Accredited dental hygiene programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers
• Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist.: (a) Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist - Temporary Full-Time Appointments - Part-Time Appointments and Without-Compensation Appointments for a Period Not to Exceed Two Years
• (b) Non-certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a certified dental hygienist at or above the full performance level
• (c) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (d) Temporary appointments of non-certified dental hygienist may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• (e)Failure to Obtain Certification In all cases - dental hygienists must actively pursue meeting requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the dental hygienist supervisor will provide the dental hygienist with the written requirements for licensure/certification - including the time by which the licensure/certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Management officials will remove dental hygienists from their positions who fail to obtain licensure/certification during this time period - which may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Credential: Management officials will remove dental hygienists from their positions who fail to maintain the required licensure/certification - which may also result in termination of employment
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Dental Hygienist - GS-09 Experience: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-8) that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
• Experience includes but is not limited to provide gross debridement - scaling and root planing procedures
• take radiographic images characterized by high diagnostic quality - accurate orientation and proper exposure
• provide individual and group oral health care instruction to patients and caregivers using knowledge of medical diseases - conditions - and chronic degenerative diseases as they relate to oral health
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 9
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS 9
• Preferred Experience: Prior Robust experience and current employment as a Dental Hygienist
• Physical Requirements:
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The Dental Hygienist sets up operatory for planned dental procedure by cleaning dental unit for timely turnover and handles instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently
• Duties include but are not limited to: Takes and records vital signs - reviews medical history
• Charts oral condition and assesses patient's medical - dental - anxiety/phobias - medications - and comorbidities
• Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health
• Perform dental prophylaxis and periodontal maintenance procedures using hand and ultrasonic instruments - to include gross debridement - curettage and scaling & root planning - tooth polishing & application of topical fluoride solutions
• Applies appropriate topical fluoride solutions or varnishes
• Cleans dental prostheses - fixed and removable
• Administers topical anesthetic agents
• Applies desensitizing agents
• Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols.
• Explains hygiene procedures - indications - complications and expected outcomes to individual patients and caregivers
• Prepares and provides education on periodontal disease - wellness - health maintenance - oral hygiene practices - parafunctional habits - and effect of illness - addictions - medications - and tobacco on the oral cavity
• Dental Imaging-Proper usage of dental radiography equipment - radiation safety - assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory
• Assists patients in scheduling appointments via VA scheduling software
• Manages dental recall system - referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed
• Performs other required duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30AM to 4:00PM
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 06716F
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.