Dental Hygienist (Advanced Clinical)

Veterans Health Administration • Martinsburg, WV

19h • Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Clinical Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of a dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently. The position also instructs affiliated dental hygiene programs and coordinates the long-term dental program in accordance with applicable Joint Commission, national, local Medical Center Memoranda, and Dental Service policies and procedures. The employee plans, coordinates, and conducts preventive oral health programs for various patient groups and develops or modifies instructional methods.

The hygienist provides advanced preventive and periodontal care, completes patient assessments and screenings, supports complex restorative and prosthodontic cases, and provides adjunctive treatments. The role includes educating Veterans, caregivers, staff, dental residents, and students; coordinating student rotations; performing dental imaging; maintaining infection-control and sterilization standards; and assisting with scheduling and clinical information management.

This is an intermittent position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The full-performance level is GS-10.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• An associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program; qualifying programs must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or meet the stated foreign-education equivalency requirements.
• A full, current, and unrestricted dental hygienist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Meet radiographer credentialing requirements by completing an appropriately accredited educational program and holding certification as a radiographer; the posting notes that accredited dental hygiene programs include radiologic-procedure curriculum that meets this requirement.
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, directly related to the position, and meeting the KSAs for that level.
• Knowledge of hygiene procedures, their indications, complications, and expected outcomes; dental radiography equipment and radiation safety; fluoride products and their safe application; and detection of plaque, calculus, dental abnormalities, and inflammation.
• Skill in patient and caregiver education on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene, parafunctional habits, and the effects of illness, addictions, medications, and tobacco on the oral cavity.
• Ability to assess a patient’s medical and dental history, anxiety or phobias, medications, and comorbidities to provide safe care; assess impacts on oral health, recognize age-related changes, adapt the environment, and maximize physical comfort.
• Knowledge of medical assessment techniques, including interviewing and evaluating clinical findings, to adapt treatment for medical and psychological issues.
• Advanced knowledge of oral and dental anatomy, common pathologies and anomalies, and indications and techniques for advanced radiographic imaging.
• Knowledge of medical treatment adjuncts and their indications, and ability to safely administer medicaments and treatments such as intrasulcular medicaments, local anesthesia, sulcular lavage, and periodontal surgical dressing application and removal.
• Knowledge of advanced adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and its indications, and ability to use it safely, including sonic, magnetostrictive ultrasonic, and piezo ultrasonic scalers.
• Skill in safe, thorough prophylaxis, root planing, and soft-tissue curettage for complex periodontal or restorative cases, and in providing safe care to patients with complex medical or psychiatric issues.
• Ability to apply adult-education techniques, organize curriculum, assess cognitive ability, and provide healthcare education about relationships between medical and dental pathologies to groups, interdisciplinary staff, and outside contacts.
• Meet pre-employment screening and onboarding conditions, including any required drug test, background/security investigation, physical examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination; complete application requirements and serve the stated one- or two-year trial period if appointed.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care under the general supervision of a dentist and perform clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.
• Show courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude toward patients, coworkers, and the public; assist customers with questions or concerns and provide service recovery.
• Assess nursing home patients’ long-term dental needs and initiate dental care with a dentist when indicated.
• Set up dental treatment rooms for planned procedures and clean dental units for timely turnover in accordance with infection-control guidelines.
• Provide routine oral prophylactic care, including application of fluoride solutions.
• Perform gross debridement, deep scaling, curettage, and root planing.
• Manage the dental recall system and refer patients to a dentist for additional care when needed.
• Apply desensitizing and sealant materials and make impressions for fluoride-carrier trays.
• Provide prophylaxis for complex restorative and prosthodontic cases, including cases involving multiple dental implants and full-mouth rehabilitation or reconstruction.
• Complete medication reconciliation, oral cancer screenings, dietary analysis for caries risk, and comprehensive periodontal charting.
• Provide advanced adjunctive treatment, including xerostomia treatment recommendations, sulcular lavage, placement of intrasulcular medicaments, and placement of desensitizing agents; collaborate with other disciplines.
• Prepare and provide individualized and group oral-health education for Veterans in inpatient and outpatient settings, and provide instructions to caregivers and special-needs populations.
• Develop training materials or presentations for Veterans, staff, dental residents, and students within and outside the Dental Service.
• Coordinate dental hygiene student rotations, mentor students during rotations, and evaluate and prepare progress reports for students as they leave the rotation.
• Perform periapical, panoramic, cone-beam CT, cephalometric, maxillary sinus, and temporomandibular joint imaging studies; ensure images are diagnostic quality and properly oriented and exposed, use imaging safety techniques, and minimize retakes.
• Follow infection-control procedures when setting up and cleaning treatment rooms and prepare instruments for processing according to Sterilization Processing Service and Dental Service standards and procedures.
• Assist patients with appointment scheduling and help fill clinical schedule gaps by contacting patients and working with schedulers to maintain access to care and clinic utilization.
• Maintain patient confidentiality under HIPAA and follow computer security regulations.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package, with eligibility depending on position type and other conditions.
• Selected applicants may request consideration for credit toward annual-leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service; approval is required and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree