Dental Hygienist

Veterans Health Administration • Richmond, VA

16d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of a dentist and performs clinical and clerical functions independently. The role provides guidance to patients and receives guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff only for the most complex patients. At the GS-9 full-performance level, the hygienist provides direct care with only general supervision from a dentist and manages stable medically compromised patients. The position also involves patient assessment, treatment recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planing, radiographic imaging and interpretation, patient education, behavior management, instrument sharpening, and communication across services.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Applicants must meet federal eligibility and pre-employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship (subject to the stated exception), English proficiency, background and security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination. A one- or two-year trial period is required. The position requires an associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program, a current unrestricted dental hygienist license, and radiographer certification. A temporary appointment of up to two years may be available for eligible non-certified graduate hygienists at GS-5 only.

The full-performance level is GS-9. Applicants at this level must have at least one year of experience at the next lower grade demonstrating the relevant clinical competencies, in addition to the basic requirements. The role requires knowledge of preventive dentistry, anatomy and physiology, applicable TJC and OSHA regulations, and the skills and abilities described in the posting for clinical care, radiography, patient education, and safe care assessment.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program; qualifying programs must be accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
• Current, full, unrestricted license to practice as a dental hygienist in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Radiographer certification, supported by completion of an educational program meeting applicable standards; accredited dental hygiene programs may meet the radiographic education requirement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For the GS-9 full-performance level, at least one year of experience at the next lower grade demonstrating the clinical competencies described for that level.
• Knowledge of current preventive dentistry measures, anatomy and physiology, and TJC, OSHA, and related dental regulations and guidelines.
• Skill in providing individual and group oral-health instruction.
• Knowledge of hygiene procedures, including processes, indications, complications, and expected outcomes.
• Knowledge of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, image capture assessment, and film interpretation.
• Knowledge of fluoride products and their indications and limitations for safe application.
• Skill in detecting plaque, calculus, and dental abnormalities or pathologies; assessing inflammation; and safely performing instrumentation.
• Skill in educating patients and caregivers 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 medical and dental conditions, anxiety or phobias, medications, and comorbidities to provide safe care; assess effects on oral health; recognize age-related changes; adapt the care environment; and maximize comfort.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment; complete the required onboarding and application documentation.
• Pass required pre-employment drug screening if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, background/security investigation, and pre-employment physical examination; participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Foreign education used to qualify must be evaluated as equivalent to qualifying U.S. education; the required foreign equivalency documentation must be submitted.

Nice To Haves

• Current VHA employees in this occupation may qualify under the stated grandfathering provision if they meet its criteria.
• Eligible non-certified graduate dental hygienists may be considered for a temporary appointment of up to two years at the GS-5 level while awaiting certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care under the general supervision of a dentist and perform clinical and clerical functions independently.
• Show courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude toward patients, coworkers, and the public; assist customers with questions or concerns and provide service recovery.
• Provide Veteran- and family-centered care that respects personal goals, preferences, choices, knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds, and collaborate with patients and families.
• Set up the operatory for planned procedures and clean the dental unit for timely turnover.
• Follow patient-identification, time-out, reusable medical equipment, and infection-control processes; handle instruments safely and efficiently.
• Take and record vital signs, review medical history, chart oral conditions, and assess medical and dental status, anxiety or phobias, medications, comorbidities, and the effects of conditions on oral health.
• Recognize age-related changes, adapt the patient environment, and maximize physical comfort.
• Provide routine oral prophylaxis, gross debridement, scaling and root planing, subgingival curettage, and cleaning of fixed and removable dental prostheses.
• Apply topical fluoride solutions or varnishes and desensitizing agents; administer topical anesthetics and, when permitted by the hygienist’s state license and current certification, local anesthesia.
• Manage the dental recall system and refer patients to a dentist for additional care when needed.
• Perform routine maintenance of equipment components such as suction traps and water lines.
• Educate patients and caregivers about hygiene procedures, indications, complications, expected outcomes, periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene, parafunctional habits, and the effects of illness, addictions, medications, and tobacco on oral health.
• Take diagnostic-quality dental images with correct orientation and exposure, using imaging safety techniques and minimizing retakes.
• Prepare instruments for sterilization according to SPS standards without delaying clinical care; follow infection-control procedures when setting up and cleaning the operatory and exposing images.
• Assist patients with appointment scheduling and fill schedule gaps caused by late cancellations and missed appointments.
• Maintain patient confidentiality in written and verbal communications and follow computer security regulations.
• Modify care and patient transfers or positioning according to patients’ age, abilities, health conditions, medications, anxiety, and comorbidities; provide clear instructions and monitor for signs of physical distress.
• For GS-9 assignments, conduct medical assessments and full periodontal assessment and charting; make disease and treatment-management recommendations; provide denture care, radiographs and image interpretation, behavior management, instrument sharpening, and inter-service communication.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Selected applicants may request consideration of prior work or military service for annual-leave accrual credit; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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