Clarification from the agency

This external vacancy announcement is open to all qualified applicants. There is a separate vacancy announcement open to all current, permanent federal government employees for this same position. If you are a current, federal government employee, please see internal announcement number 12557202.

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Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Deliverers care that reflects the Veteran's and the family's personal goals, personal preferences and choice.
• Demonstrates a collaborative orientation to working with patients and coworkers.
• Performs as a clinician and educational specialist providing therapeutic and preventive procedures for all levels of dental care/periodontal care patients, including advanced periodontal disease complicated by other dental and medical problems.
• Decides as to which treatment to perform in cooperation with the patient's primary care dental provider.
• Performs periodontal charting and monitoring, dental prophylaxis, subgingival scaling, root planning treatment for patients.
• Provides care for patients who present apprehension, mental disorders and/or xerostomia.
• Administers local anesthesia as appropriate (The hygienist must process a certificate from the state of Ohio or another state that has similar requirements as the state of Ohio).
• Serves as chief dental hygiene support both to staff periodontist in advanced cases and in in the maintenance of endosseous dental implants.
• Performs additional procedures such as taking dental x-rays, recording medical and dental histories, reviewing patient's dietary habits, administering caries prevention agents, desensitizing root surfaces, taking impressions for study casts, removing sutures and instructing the patients in home care therapy and proper diet as these relate to oral health.
• Develops and revises oral health instruction materials and educational techniques for patients with varied levels of dental knowledge and educational background.
• Provides oral health care in-service training as needed for the facility.
• Treats oral hygiene patients and advises and counsels such patients on proper oral health maintenance. Treatment of patients includes prophylaxis, dietary planning, oral hygiene instruction, root planning and scaling, and consultation with patient's primary dental care provider as needed. Treats medically compromised patients at the Cincinnati Dental Service. Clinical work is increased during periods of increased clinical workload affecting the health issues of the Veteran and active duty patients treated at this facility.
• Responsible for the management of all Veteran patients whose dental care is adjunct to a service-connected medical condition. Incumbent works closely with the patient's primary dental care provider to regularly monitor these patients for compliance with eligibility rules and regulations.
• Remains current with current dental/dental hygiene literature to remain up to date on current dental techniques in the field of dental hygiene. Monitors and evaluates infection control practices, particularly as they relate to dental hygiene, and reports findings to the Chief, Dental Service. Tests and recommends new dental hygiene products.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information and follows computer security regulations.
• Possesses an in-depth knowledge of oral anatomy, periodontology, nutrition, pharmacology as it relates to the periodontium, microbiology, principles and techniques of dental hygiene, oral disease etiology, preventive dentistry, diet and smoking cessation counseling, dental instrumentation and materials. General knowledge of oral pathology to include diseases of the oral hard and soft tissues, disorders of tooth structures, developmental anomalies, salivary gland disorders, symptoms of infective disorders and appropriate protocols. Practical knowledge of medical diseases and conditions such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, HIV, radiation therapy, cardiovascular diseases, bulimia, anorexia, pregnancy and chronic and degenerative diseases as they relate to dental health.
• Possesses knowledge and ability to perform dental hygiene on medically compromised patients with disabilities. Makes appropriate oral hygiene recommendations to patients with manual dexterity issues. Initiates interdisciplinary recommendations to other departments concerning patient care
• Provides appropriate nutrition and tobacco counseling when indicated.
• Works with team members to ensure that all patients are scheduled within time constraints established VHA policies.
• Understands and appropriately utilizes the Patient Recall System.

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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met

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/Certification

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

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).

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.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 3.b., the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Dental Hygienist, GS-09

Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.

Assignments. Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. 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 planing, 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each.
• Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films.
• Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application.
• Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure.
• 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.
• Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care.
• 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.