Dental Hygienist

Indian Health Service • Gallup, NM

5d

About The Position

At the Indian Health Service (IHS), the Dental Hygienist supports the agency’s mission to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people by delivering dental services, promoting oral health, and supporting overall wellness in the communities served. The role provides a full range of dental hygiene care and patient education for patients with varied dental conditions, and plans and administers a preventive dentistry program.

The Dental Hygienist performs prophylactic procedures and oral health assessments; takes, develops, and interprets radiographs; and provides individualized oral health education. Duties also include applying caries-preventive agents, desensitization, root planing, temporary restorations, impressions, and suture removal; providing home-care instruction; and administering local anesthesia under close dentist supervision. The hygienist assists the dentist with smoothing and polishing restorations, reducing sharp edges, inserting temporary fillings, and making minor repairs.

The selectee must obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including required licensure. The position requires a current dental hygienist license from a U.S. state or territory or the District of Columbia, and radiological credentials meeting applicable federal requirements. The announcement identifies the position at GS-8 and requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-6, in addition to the basic requirements. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, with a service agreement of at least six months required if an incentive is accepted. A REAL ID-compliant state-issued identification document is required if used among the two forms of identification presented before appointment.

Requirements

• Current license to practice as a dental hygienist in a U.S. state or territory or the District of Columbia.
• Meet federal radiological credentialing requirements, including qualifying education and radiographer certification or an applicable recognized alternative.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-6 performing the stated dental hygiene work, including patient assessment and treatment planning, oral prophylaxis, therapeutic care, deep scaling, root planing, subgingival curettage, temporary fillings, local anesthesia, rubber dams, sealants, oral health education, and taking, developing, and interpreting X-rays.
• Obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including applicable licensure requirements.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Successfully complete a federal background investigation and financial suitability review.
• Complete required background investigation forms within five calendar days of issuance.
• Present two valid forms of identification before appointment; a state-issued ID or driver's license used for this purpose must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Set up direct deposit.
• Meet qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• For competitive-service federal employees applying through Merit Promotion, meet the applicable Time-In-Grade requirement; this requirement does not apply under ESEP.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Submit education documentation as requested; official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer.

Nice To Haves

• Prior directly related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service may be credited toward the rate of annual leave accrual for newly appointed federal employees.
• Applicants may be eligible to apply separately for student loan repayment programs through IHS, NHSC, or HRSA, subject to program requirements, hiring priorities, and funding availability.

Responsibilities

• Provide a full range of dental hygiene care and patient education for a variety of dental conditions.
• Plan and administer a preventive dentistry program, including oral health education and hygiene treatment.
• Perform prophylactic procedures and oral health assessments.
• Take, develop, and interpret intraoral and extraoral radiographs.
• Provide tailored oral health education and home-care instruction to individuals and groups.
• Apply caries-preventive agents and desensitization treatments; perform root planing, deep scaling, and subgingival curettage.
• Place temporary restorations and fillings, take impressions, remove sutures, and place and remove rubber dams and apply sealants.
• Administer local anesthesia under close supervision of a dentist.
• Assist the dentist by smoothing and polishing restorations, reducing sharp edges, inserting temporary fillings, and making minor repairs.
• Conduct community outreach to schools and teach groups about oral hygiene.
• Obtain and maintain required medical staff clinical privileges and licensure.

Benefits

• Federal annual leave, accrued at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period depending on federal service.
• Potential credit for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual rate.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized.
• Potential eligibility to apply for student loan repayment programs through IHS, NHSC, or HRSA; these are competitive and separate from hiring.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed