Dental Hygienist (Advanced Clinical)

Veterans Health Administration • Iron Mountain, MI

18d • Onsite

About The Position

Dental hygienists at this advanced level practice in assigned areas, providing direct patient care under the general supervision of a dentist and independently performing other clinical and clerical functions. They work closely with and under the general direction of a dentist, periodontist, or other specialist. The role includes assessing patients and adapting care to their medical, dental, psychological, and age-related needs; performing advanced preventive and periodontal procedures; supporting diagnostic imaging and infection control; and educating patients and caregivers. The position is not available for telework or virtual work. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

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; transcripts are required.
• A full, current, unrestricted license to practice as a dental hygienist in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; license is required.
• Radiographer certification or qualifying completion of an accredited dental hygiene program curriculum that meets the radiologic-procedure credentialing requirement; certification is required.
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-09 level for GS-10 qualification, including direct patient care and specialized dental hygiene duties.
• Knowledge of hygiene procedures, including their processes, indications, complications, and expected outcomes.
• Knowledge of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, image capture, and image interpretation.
• Knowledge of fluoride products, their indications and limitations, and safe application.
• Skill in detecting plaque, calculus, abnormalities and pathologies; assessing inflammation; and providing safe instrumentation.
• Skill in educating patients and caregivers about periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene, parafunctional habits, and effects of illness, addictions, medications, and tobacco.
• 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; and adapt the environment for patient comfort.
• Advanced knowledge of oral and dental anatomy, root anatomy, common pathologies and anomalies, and advanced radiographic imaging techniques.
• Knowledge of medical assessment techniques and treatment adjuncts, including safe administration of medicaments and local anesthesia.
• Knowledge of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and its safe use.
• Skill in providing safe, thorough prophylaxis, root planing, and soft-tissue curettage for complex cases and care for patients with complex medical or psychiatric issues.
• Ability to apply adult-education methods, organize curriculum, assess cognitive ability, and provide healthcare education about relationships between medical and dental pathologies.
• Must pass pre-employment evaluation and background/security investigation; selected applicants must complete onboarding and applicable drug screening.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Only qualifying education from recognized accredited institutions is accepted; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency with transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Assist customers with questions or concerns and provide service recovery.
• Set up operatories for planned dental procedures and clean dental units for timely turnover.
• Follow patient identification, time-out, reusable medical equipment, and infection-control procedures.
• Administer indicated treatment adjuncts and medicaments, including intrasulcular medicaments, local anesthesia, sulcular lavage, and periodontal surgical dressings.
• Assess patients using interviews and clinical findings, including normal and critical laboratory values, and adapt treatment to medical and psychological needs.
• Safely and efficiently handle instruments; take and record vital signs; review medical histories; and chart oral conditions.
• Assess patients' medical and dental conditions, anxiety or phobias, medications, comorbidities, and the impact of these factors on maintaining oral health.
• Recognize age-related changes, adapt the patient environment, and maximize physical comfort.
• Select and safely use adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, including sonic, magnetostrictive ultrasonic, and piezo ultrasonic scalers.
• Provide prophylaxis, gross debridement, scaling and root planing, and soft-tissue curettage for complex periodontal and restorative cases, and care for patients with complex medical or psychiatric issues.
• Clean fixed and removable dental prostheses; apply topical fluoride; administer topical anesthetics and local anesthesia; and apply desensitizing agents.
• Perform routine maintenance of equipment components and manage the dental recall system, referring patients to a dentist when additional care is needed.
• 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.
• Use adult-education methods, assess patients' cognitive abilities, and provide education suited to their needs and oral conditions.
• Capture diagnostic-quality images with correct orientation and exposure while following dental-imaging safety procedures; use knowledge of dental anatomy and radiographic imaging to detect potential abnormalities.
• Prepare instruments for sterilization according to SPS standards and prepare instruments for procedures without delaying care.
• Assist patients with scheduling and fill schedule gaps caused by late cancellations and missed appointments.
• Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA.
• Monitor patients during treatment and remain alert for signs of physical distress.
• Perform other assigned duties.

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.

What This Job Offers

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