Summary Dental Hygienist (Advanced Clinical) serves within the Clinical Section of Dental Service at the Central Texas VA Health Care System (CTVHCS). They provide direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and perform other clinical and clerical functions. Employee works closely with, and under the general direction of, a dentist or periodontist. Employee plan, coordinate, and conduct preventive oral health programs for various patient groups, caregivers and healthcare providers. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to: Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public. Aids customers with questions or concerns as well as provider service recovery. Delivers care that reflects the Veteran's and the family's personal goals, personal preferences, and freedom of choice. Demonstrates knowledge and application of patient and family centered care in written care plans, instructions to patients, and in observance of the actual care provided. Demonstrates nonjudgmental understanding of the Veteran's and family's knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds. Demonstrates collaborative orientation to working with patients and families. Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Handles instruments safely, accurately, and effectively. Assess clinical findings, including normal and critical lab results, and adapt care based on findings. Interview patient and assess patient's medical dental, anxiety/phobia, medication, and comorbidities. Assesses the impact of patients' medical and dental condition on maintain oral health. Recognize age-related changes in individual patients, adapt patient environment, and maximize patient's physical comfort. Provides routine oral prophylaxis, gross debridement, soft tissue curettage, deep scaling, and root planning procedures to patients with complex periodontal/restorative conditions and complex medica/psychiatric issues. Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable. Performs appropriate periodontal charting according to the guidelines outlined by the National office of Dentistry. Provides patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition. Explains hygiene procedures, indications, complication and expected outcomes to individual patient and caregivers. Prepares and provides education on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, and effect of illness, addictions, medication and tobacco on the oral cavity. Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed. Dental imaging safely techniques and utilized, and retakes are minimized. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting gup and cleaning up operatory. Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS standards. Assists patients in scheduling appointments by entering RTC order. Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellation and failed appointments. Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follows computer security regulations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54158F/Dental Hygienist (Advanced Clinical) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 dentification 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. 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 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. 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. Public Law 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. Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. 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. English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Grade Determinations: GS-10: Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) that is directly related to the position being filled fully meets the KSAs at that level. Examples of experience would include, but are not limited to: patient medical assessment (e.g. medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting), disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planing, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (e.g. post-procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and perio-disease prevention), behavior management, management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors), instrument sharpening, inter-service communication. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Knowledge of medical assessment techniques including interviewing and evaluating clinical findings (e.g. normal and critical lab values) to adapt treatment based on medical and psychological issues. Advanced knowledge of oral and dental anatomy including root anatomy, common pathologies and anomalies, and indications for advanced radiographic imaging and proper technique to detect potential abnormalities. Knowledge of medical treatment adjuncts and indications and the ability to safely administer medicaments (e.g. intrasulcular medicaments, local anesthesia, sulcular lavage, applying and removing periodontal surgical dressing). Knowledge of advanced adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, indication for use and ability to utilize safely (e.g. sonic, magnetostrictive ultrasonic, and piezo ultrasonic scalers). Skill in providing safe and thorough prophylaxis, root planing and soft- tissue curettage for complex periodontal and/or restorative cases and skill in providing safe care for patients with complex medical/psychiatric issues. Ability to apply adult education techniques/methods, organize curriculum, judge cognitive ability, and provide healthcare education regarding relationships between medical and dental pathologies to groups, interdisciplinary staff, and other outside contacts. Preferred Experience: Successful completion of a Dental Hygienist program (certificate, diploma, or degree). Excellent Customer Service and Communication Skills Must be able to work under pressure and plan workload without halting operation as a whole while showing initiative in completing priority tasks. Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently while managing priorities. Experience in coordinating clinic workflow and assignments ??????? Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements: Work requires long period of standing, sitting, and recurring bending and reaching during clinical procedures. Above average dexterity is also required in presenting demonstrations of oral health techniques in manipulating sharp dental instruments. Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Use of fingers; Walking (4 hours); Standing (4 hours); Specific visual requirement (DVA & NVA Binocular 20/20); Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted). Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Accreditation Information: The associate degree or higher degree must be fully accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from: Find a Program (ada.org) 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/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the: American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA): Find a Program (ada.org) website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
