Dental Hygienist

Veterans Health Administration; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Dental Hygienist at the Wilmington VA Clinic to provide direct patient care under general supervision from a dentist for routine cases.

Applicants must hold an accredited dental hygiene degree, be licensed in the United States, and meet radiologic credentialing standards. VA policy outlines non-certified options and licensure timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level education not required; must possess an accredited dental hygiene program degree.
• Current, full, unrestricted dental hygienist license in U.S. or District of Columbia.
• Credentialing for radiologic procedures per 42 C.F.R. Part 75 (radiographer certification).
• Foreign education evaluated as equivalent to CODA-accredited programs for NBDE eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care under general supervision from a dentist for routine cases.
• Consult with supervising staff on more complex patients.
• Maintain licensure/certification; pursue requirements promptly to avoid credential loss.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Associate degree or higher in dental hygiene (CODA-accredited)

Job description

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.

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