Dental Hygienist

Veterans Health Administration • Conroe, TX

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care and generally works under a dentist’s supervision, receiving guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff for only the most complex patients. The position provides preventive and other dental hygiene services, patient education, dental imaging, infection control, and related clinical and administrative support. The work is performed in an office/clinic setting and may involve handling several tasks at once in stressful situations.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., subject to change based on facility needs. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• An associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program. The program must have been accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) when the course of study was completed, or foreign education must be deemed equivalent to a CODA-accredited U.S. program and enable the applicant to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
• A full, current, and unrestricted license to practice as a Dental Hygienist in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Radiographer certification requirements must be met for applicants administering radiologic procedures; completion of an accredited dental hygiene program with radiologic procedures in its curriculum meets the stated dental radiographer certification requirement.
• For GS-09: at least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-08) meeting the required knowledge, skills, abilities, and clinical competencies. The resume must state average hours worked per week for work experience credit.
• Demonstrated GS-08 knowledge of preventive dentistry; anatomy and physiology relevant to interpreting examination requests and radiographic images; applicable TJC, OSHA, and related dental regulations; and skill in individual and group oral-health instruction.
• For GS-09, demonstrated knowledge of hygiene procedures and their indications, complications, and expected outcomes; dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, and image assessment; and appropriate fluoride product selection and application.
• For GS-09, demonstrated skill in detecting plaque, calculus, dental abnormalities or pathologies, and inflammation, and in safely performing dental hygiene procedures.
• For GS-09, demonstrated skill in educating patients and caregivers about periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene, parafunctional habits, and the effects of illness, addictions, medications, and tobacco on oral health.
• For GS-09, ability to assess patients’ medical and dental histories, anxiety or phobias, medications, and comorbidities to provide safe care; assess the effects of medical and dental conditions on oral health; recognize age-related changes; adapt the environment; and maximize physical comfort.
• Meet employment conditions including background/security investigation, required onboarding and identification requirements, seasonal influenza vaccination, and a 1- or 2-year trial period. Applicants selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Submit a transcript with the application; only qualifying education from recognized, accredited institutions may be used.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of experience in specialty care.
• Experience providing dental hygiene care to medically complex patients.
• At least two years of experience in a high-volume clinic setting.

Responsibilities

• Set up the operatory for planned dental procedures and clean the dental unit for timely turnover.
• Handle instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Provide routine oral prophylactic care, including fluoride application, gross debridement, deep scaling, curettage, and root planing.
• Clean fixed and removable dental prostheses.
• Manage the dental recall system and refer patients to the dentist when additional care is needed.
• Apply desensitizing and sealant materials; make impressions for fluoride carrier trays; administer topical anesthetics and, as permitted by state licensure, local anesthetics; and administer local anti-infective agents as directed by the dentist.
• Perform procedures within standard infection-control protocols.
• Provide courteous, respectful service to patients, coworkers, and the public; answer customer questions and concerns and provide service recovery.
• Provide patient education appropriate to patients’ needs and oral conditions, including individual and group oral-health instruction for inpatients, outpatients, and caregivers.
• Produce diagnostic-quality dental images that are accurately oriented and exposed; use imaging safety techniques and minimize retakes.
• Follow infection-control procedures when setting up and cleaning the operatory and exposing images; prepare instruments for sterilization according to SPD standards without delaying clinical care.
• Help fill scheduling gaps caused by late cancellations and missed appointments; chart findings, treatment plans, and care provided in patient records.
• Maintain patient confidentiality under HIPAA and follow computer security regulations.
• Adapt care to patients’ ages and abilities, including transfers and positioning; provide understandable instructions; participate in patient information and time-out procedures required by JCAHO; and monitor patients for physical distress during treatment.
• Meet employee education requirements, complete annual mandatory safety training, and prepare and present monthly safety training to Dental Service Line staff.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits and eligibility depend on position type and other factors.
• Prior federal or military service may be credited toward annual leave accrual if requested and approved before appointment; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree