Dental Hygienist

Summary
The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Dental Service is one of the largest patient care, education and research enterprises in VHA. We are a tertiary medical care facility which provides quality patient centered care in all aspects and specialties of dentistry.
This is Dental Hygienist position is an Open Continuous Announcement for 1 position located at our Bakersfield Community Based Outpatient Clinic.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
ALL US CITIZENS
***This an an open continuous announcement. Applicants that apply by 10/20/2023 will be reviewed and sent to manager for consideration. After that date applicants will be reviewed and sent to the manager on an as needed basis. ***
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Duties
Duties included but are not limited to the following:

• Performs examinations, applies topical agents such as fluoride and antibiotics, plans periodontal treatment and provides patient education related to dental hygiene
• Administers oral prophylactic and dental hygiene treatment to patients presenting a variety of conditions
• Performs procedures, such as medical and dental history review to search for evidence of past and present conditions which may complicate or alter dental hygiene treatment
• Reviews patient's dietary habits and instructs patients in self-care therapy and proper diet as they relate to oral health
• Examines the teeth and surrounding tissues for evidence of plaque and periodontal disease and charts findings
• Inspects the oral cavity and pharynx for evidence of disease, such as oral cancer
• Interprets routine radiographs to identify anatomical structures, subgingival calculus, caries and periodontal pockets
• Prepares dental hygiene treatment plans including assessment of the problem, type of oral hygiene care required, and the sequence of appointments needed to complete treatment
• Performs a complete oral prophylaxis on ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients
• Performs subgingival scaling, root planning and curettage under local anesthesia
• Administers local anesthetics
• Polishes the teeth and applies fluoride for hypersensitivity and caries prevention
• Applies locally delivered antibiotics in periodontal pockets when indicated
• Desensitizes root surfaces, removes sutures, and gives post treatment instructions
• Takes impressions for study casts, night guards and TMJ appliances
• Instructs patients at chairside in oral hygiene, brushing, flossing techniques and the proper use of periodontal aids
• Cleans, sharpens and sends all hygiene instruments to SPS for sterilization
• Keeps operatory supplied with all necessary equipment, instruments and disposable supplies needed for the proper treatment of patients
• Electronically enters conditions of the teeth and oral tissues, progress notes, appointments and the type of treatment administered by way of the CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System) and the DRM (Dental Record Manager) programs

Work Schedule: Full-time, Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: Applicants must possess an Associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved programs are:(1) Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).(2) [Education completed outside of the United States must be considered at least equivalent to that gained in CODA accredited United States programs and would enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, which is administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.]
• Licensure: Applicants must be currently licensed to practice as a Dental Hygienist with a full, current and unrestricted license in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Certification: P.L. 97-35, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1981, requires persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. Part 75, Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for and the Credentialing of Radiologic Personnel. To meet this requirement, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field. Accredited dental hygiene programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers.
• Loss of Credential: Management officials will remove Dental Hygienists from their positions who fail to maintain the required licensure/certification, which may also result in termination of employment.
• Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.(3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• English Language Proficiency: Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Preferred Experience: Employees at this level serve as staff Dental Hygienists at the full performance level. It is expected that they provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: patient medical assessment (e.g. medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting), disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planning, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (e.g. post-procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and perio-disease prevention), behavior management, management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors), instrument sharpening, inter-service communication.
GS-09
This position is at the full performance level
Grade Determinations: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-8) that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
i. Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each.
ii. Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films.
iii. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application.
iv. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure.
v. Skill in educating patients and caregivers on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, and effects of illness, addictions, medications and tobacco on the oral cavity.
vi. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care.
vii. Ability to assess the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health, recognize age-related changes in individual patients, adapt patient environment, and maximize patient's physical comfort.
References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G37, dated July 23, 2021
Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), pushing (1/2 hours), use of fingers, both hands required, standing (1.5 hours), specific visual requirement (corrected vision accepted), and hearing without aid.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed...