Summary The Registered Dental Hygienist at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System(VAPAHCS) provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independent of direct supervision. Responsibilities Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Patient Care duties and responsibilities: Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover; Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently; Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions; Provides gross debridement, deep scaling, and curettage and root planning procedures; Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable; Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed; Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays; Administers topical and local anesthetic agents; Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols; Performs oral cancer screening; Provides nutritional counseling with the goal of improving oral health and decreasing caries rate; Performs patient medical assessments. Patient Education Responsibilities: Provides patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition; Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instructions to inpatients, outpatients, and caregivers; Provides diseases and treatment management recommendations; Provides behavior management and management of stable medically compromise patients, including risk factors. Dental Imagining Duties and Responsibilities: Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed; Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized; Interprets radiographs and images. Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Duties and Responsibilities: Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory; Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS standards; Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care; Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images; Demonstrates proper instruments sharpening. Clerical Responsibilities: Assists patients in scheduling appointments; Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments; Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records; Assists with inter-service communication. Information Management Responsibilities: Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information; Follows computer security regulations. Patient Safety Responsibilities: Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities; Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients; Participates in patient identification and time out per TJC requirements; Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Employee Education Responsibilities: Complies with employee education requirements; Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions; Prepares and presents monthly safety training to Dental Service staff. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 - Registered Dental Hygienist Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. Associate Degree or higher in an accredited dental hygiene program. This program must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 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. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, 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 which will meet the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grade Determinations GS-5 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-6 Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level. Knowledge, skills, and abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of oral prophylactic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures for periodontal diseases, or inflammation, or on patients with other medical and/or dental problems; Ability to use communication techniques to encourage and inform individuals and groups; and Knowledge of dental methods and techniques used in performing intra and extra oral procedures. Assignment. Employees at this level serve as developmental level 1 dental hygienists. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for complex patient issues and require daily and direct contact at the site of work from the assigned supervisor. GS-7 Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Knowledge, skills, and abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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; Practical knowledge of medical diseases, conditions, and chronic degenerative diseases as they relate to dental health and treatment; and Knowledge of radiographic exposure techniques in order to produce radiographs of high diagnostic quality. Assignment. Employees at this level serve as developmental level 2 dental hygienists. It is expected that they perform more complex work while receiving less frequent supervision than at the GS-6 level. GS-8 Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Knowledge, skills, and abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-7 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of state of the art preventive dentistry measures for patient instruction and training; 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; Skill in providing individual and group oral health care instructions to inpatients, outpatients, Nursing Home Care Unit patients, etc.; and Knowledge of VA, The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and related regulations and guidelines pertaining to dental matters. Assignment. Employees at this level serve as developmental level 3 dental hygienists with the ability to perform direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist. It is expected that they receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: patient assessments (e.g. risk assessments, oral health assessments), prevention recommendations, prophylaxis, periodontal treatment for mild to moderate disease (e.g. scaling and root planing, full mouth debridement), Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) radiograph/image capture, fluoride treatment application, topical anesthesia administration, management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors). GS-9 Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level GS-8, that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Knowledge, skills, and abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities for 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; Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure; Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application; Knowledge of hygiene procedures in order 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; and 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. Assignment. Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. It is expected that they provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist. Assignments at this level 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 planning, 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/73, PART II, APPENDIX G37. DENTAL HYGIENIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0682 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-9. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/. Additional Information 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.