Dental Hygienist

<p>The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist & performs other clinical & clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Work closely with, & under the general direction of a dentist. Plans, coordinate, & conduct preventive oral health programs for various patient groups, caregivers, & healthcare providers; develop & modify instructional methods; & develop methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the preventive dentistry program.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>Advanced patient assessments & clinical evaluations Prophylaxis in complex restorative cases Individual & group oral hygiene instructions for special-needs populations Management of medically &/or behaviorally compromised patients, & collaboration with other Demonstrates non-judgmental understanding of the Veteran's & family's knowledge, values, beliefs, & cultural backgrounds- Delivers care that reflects the Veteran's & the family's personal goals, personal preferences Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery Shows courtesy, respect, & a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, & the public Demonstrates collaborative orientation to working with patients & families Provide routine oral prophylaxis, gross debridement, soft tissue curettage, deep scaling & root planning procedures to patients with complex periodontal/restorative conditions & complex medical/psychiatric issues Safely utilizes advanced adjunctive diagnostic & therapeutic equipment (e.g. sonic, magnetostrictive ultrasonic & piezo ultrasonic scalers) Recognize age-related changes in individuals, adapt patient environment, & maximize patient's physical comfort Administers intrasulcular anti-infective agents & sulcular lavage per direction of dentist/periodontist Assess clinical findings, including normal & critical lab results, & adapt care based on findings Interview & assess a patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications, & comorbidities Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure & cleans dental unit for timely turnover Assesses the impact of patient's medical & dental condition on maintaining oral health Evaluate patient's caries risk & select & apply appropriate fluoride solutions Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols Applies & removes periodontal dressings per direction of dentist Handles instruments safely, accurately, & efficiently Cleans dental prostheses, fixed & removable Administers local anesthetic (per State license) Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays Applies desensitizing & sealant materials Administers topical anesthetic agents Applies adult education techniques/methods, organizes curriculum, judges cognitive ability, & provides healthcare education regarding relationships between medical & dental pathologies to groups &/or interdisciplinary staff Prepares & provides education on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices effect of illness, addictions, medications, & tobacco on the oral cavity Explains hygiene procedures, indications, complications & expected outcomes to patients & care givers Provide patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs & oral condition Recognizes common pathologies & utilizes advanced radiographic technique (CBCT) & equipment to detect abnormalities Ensure radiographic images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented & exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, & retakes are minimized Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up & cleaning up operatory - Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization per SPS standards 6. Clerical Functions Assists patients in scheduling appointments, places appropriate RTC orders, & open/closes imaging consults Assists dentists to complete patient exams by filling out all necessary information in DRM & CPRS Supports the dental service in the preparation & management of Community Care consults Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations & failed appointments Records findings, treatment plans, & treatment provided in patient records Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written & verbal information Follows computer security regulations Modifies care based on patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications, & comorbidities Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age & abilities (patient transfer & position) - Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress Participates in patient identification & time out per TJC requirements. Provides accurate & understandable instructions to patients Prepares & presents hygiene/safety updates at the Dental Staff Meeting Complies with TMS & Employee Education requirements Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Work Schedule: Mon-Thurs 7:30a-5p, Friday 7:30a-4p (compressed schedule) 4/5/9 with every other Friday off. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Ad-Hoc, Maybe Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60615-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.<h3>Education</h3>Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.