Career Center

Summary

Dental Hygienists provides expert dental hygiene care and management for patients in the Cincinnati Dental Service in cooperation with the patient's primary dental care provider. A licensed dental hygienist is required for this position. Employees at this level serve as stall dental hygienists at the full performance level. Recruitment and relocation incentives may be authorized for Highly Qualified candidates

Qualifications

Citizenship. Be a Citizen of the United States 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/Certification. 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. GRADE DETERMINATIONS 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. 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/. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)

Duties

• Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Shows courtesy - respect and a positive attitude for patients - coworkers - and the public
• Aids customers with questions and concerns - provides service recovery
• Deliverers care that reflects the Veteran's and the family's personal goals - personal preferences and choice
• Demonstrates knowledge and application of patients and family centered care in care plans - instructions to patients and in observation of the care provides
• Demonstrates non-judgmental understanding of the Veteran's and family's knowledge - values - beliefs - and cultural background
• Performs as a clinician and educational specialist providing therapeutic and preventive procedures for all levels of dental care/periodontal care patients - including advanced periodontal disease complicated by other dental and medical problems
• Decides as to which treatment to perform in cooperation with the patient's primary care dental provider
• Upon referral by staff dentists - performs periodontal charting and monitoring - dental prophylaxis - subgingival scaling - root planning treatment for patients
• Administers local anesthesia as appropriate (The hygienist must process a certificate from the state of Ohio or another state that has similar requirements as the state of Ohio)
• Performs additional procedures such as taking dental x-rays - recording medical and dental histories - reviewing patient's dietary habits - administering caries prevention agents - desensitizing root surfaces - taking impressions for study casts - removing sutures and instructing the patients in home care therapy and proper diet as these relate to oral health
• Plans - coordinates and conducts oral health programs for various patient groups
• Responsible for the development - coordination - administration - evaluation and modification of the Preventive Dentistry program at this facility in cooperation with Chief - Dental Service and other hygienists on staff
• Possesses an in-depth knowledge of oral anatomy - periodontology - nutrition - pharmacology as it relates to the periodontium - microbiology - principles and techniques of dental hygiene - oral disease etiology - preventive dentistry - diet and smoking cessation counseling - dental instrumentation and materials
• Has knowledge of oral pathology to include diseases of the oral hard and soft tissues - disorders of tooth structures - developmental anomalies - salivary gland disorders - symptoms of infective disorders and appropriate protocols
• Possesses sufficient knowledge concerning current principles of infection control and environment of care issues
• Performs clinical and non-clinical duties requiring the performance of therapeutic and educational dental hygiene procedures and techniques
• Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday - 6:30am - 4:00pm - Friday 6:30am - 3:00pm (Every other Friday off) Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 92616-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized