Dental Hygienist
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Louisville, KY, United States
Summary
Serves as staff dental hygienist at the full performance level for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from the treating dentist. Performs assigned selected procedures with some independence and performs complex patient procedures under indirect supervision of the dental supervisor.
Qualifications
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
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: 1) Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association\'s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
2) Education completed outside of the US must be considered at least equivalent to CODA-accredited US programs and enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
Licensure/Certification
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 US, or the District of Columbia
Certification (radiologic)
Credentialing standards for radiologic procedures must be met per 42 C.F.R Part 75; programs must be accredited and radiographers must be certified in their field
Graduates of accredited dental hygiene programs must have curriculum addressing radiologic procedures
Non-certified applicants may be eligible for a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist under certain conditions
Grandfathering provisions may apply for current VA employees
Grade Determinations
GS-9 Dental Hygienist (Full Performance Level)
Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-08)
Assignments include patient assessments, prevention, prophylaxis, periodontal treatment for mild to moderate disease, radiographs, fluoride treatment, anesthesia administration, and management of medically compromised patients
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) include: explanation of procedures and outcomes; radiography safety and image interpretation; fluoride product selection and application; plaque and calculus detection; patient education on periodontal health and risk factors; ability to assess medical and dental conditions and adapt care; understanding of radiography equipment and safety
Refer to VA Qualification Standards for more information
Physical Requirements: Sedentary work with occasional standing/walking; light lifting
Duties
Provide direct patient care as a staff dental hygienist at full performance level under general supervision of a dentist
Conduct patient medical/dental history collection, vital signs, periodontal assessment and charting, disease and treatment management recommendations
Perform scaling and root planing, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (pre/post-procedure, tobacco cessation, prevention)
Behavior management and management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors)
Instrument sharpening and inter-service communication
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
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Serves as staff dental hygienist at the full performance level for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from the treating dentist. Performs assigned selected procedures with some independence and performs complex patient procedures under indirect supervision of the dental supervisor.
Qualifications
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
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: 1) Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association\'s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
2) Education completed outside of the US must be considered at least equivalent to CODA-accredited US programs and enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
Licensure/Certification
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 US, or the District of Columbia
Certification (radiologic)
Credentialing standards for radiologic procedures must be met per 42 C.F.R Part 75; programs must be accredited and radiographers must be certified in their field
Graduates of accredited dental hygiene programs must have curriculum addressing radiologic procedures
Non-certified applicants may be eligible for a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist under certain conditions
Grandfathering provisions may apply for current VA employees
Grade Determinations
GS-9 Dental Hygienist (Full Performance Level)
Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-08)
Assignments include patient assessments, prevention, prophylaxis, periodontal treatment for mild to moderate disease, radiographs, fluoride treatment, anesthesia administration, and management of medically compromised patients
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) include: explanation of procedures and outcomes; radiography safety and image interpretation; fluoride product selection and application; plaque and calculus detection; patient education on periodontal health and risk factors; ability to assess medical and dental conditions and adapt care; understanding of radiography equipment and safety
Refer to VA Qualification Standards for more information
Physical Requirements: Sedentary work with occasional standing/walking; light lifting
Duties
Provide direct patient care as a staff dental hygienist at full performance level under general supervision of a dentist
Conduct patient medical/dental history collection, vital signs, periodontal assessment and charting, disease and treatment management recommendations
Perform scaling and root planing, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (pre/post-procedure, tobacco cessation, prevention)
Behavior management and management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors)
Instrument sharpening and inter-service communication
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
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