Government and Policy, Healthcare, Other, Healthcare, Practitioner and Technician
Job Description
Dental Hygienist
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
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 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
English Language Proficiency
Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist
Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B), Temporary Full-Time Appointments, Part-Time Appointments and Without-Compensation Appointments for a Period Not to Exceed Two Years
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i
Knowledge of oral prophylactic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures for periodontal diseases, or inflammation, or on patients with other medical and/or dental problems
ii
Knowledge of dental methods and techniques used in performing intra and extra oral procedures
iii
Ability to use communication techniques to encourage and inform individuals and groups
Dental Hygienist, GS-07 Experience
At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i
Knowledge of oral pathology to include disease of the hard and soft tissues, disorders of tooth structure, developmental and congenital anomalies, salivary gland disorders, symptoms of infectious disorders, and appropriate protocols
ii
Practical knowledge of medical diseases, conditions, and chronic degenerative diseases as they relate to dental health and treatment
iii
Knowledge of radiographic exposure techniques to produce radiographs of high diagnostic quality
Dental Hygienist, GS-08 Experience
At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-07 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i
Knowledge of state-of-the-art preventive dentistry measures for patient instruction and training
ii
Knowledge of anatomy and physiology in order to interpret the examination request accurately
to understand the functioning and interrelationship of the various anatomical structures appearing on the radiographic image and the various stages of the examination to judge the acceptability of the radiograph for diagnostic use
and to present for viewing
iii
Knowledge of The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and related regulations and guidelines pertaining to dental matters
iv
Skill in providing individual and group oral health care instructions to inpatients, outpatients, Nursing Home Care Unit patients, etc
Dental Hygienist, GS-09 Experience
At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i
Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each
ii
Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films
iii
Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application
iv
Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure
v
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
vi
Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care
vii
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
Preferred Experience: 1
3-5 years Preferred Experience in dental hygiene 2
Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standard dental procedures used in dental hygiene and periodontal care and procedures
3
Ability to assess complex patient medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting
4
Ability to provide disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planning
5
Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist
6
Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats and know radiograph/image interpretation
7
Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records Qualification will continue in Education Section below:
