Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. All U.S. Citizens ***If you ARE a current, permanent federal employee please apply to our internal announcement CBSU-12949522-26-CC***

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• Performs comprehensive medical assessments and appropriate adaptation techniques to provide safe and effective periodontal care in severely compromised patients.
• Dental screenings independently outside of the dental clinic at inpatient residential areas and adapt treatment based on findings of medically/mentally/physically compromised patients.
• Uses more advanced adjunctive, diagnostic tools and techniques for monitoring clinical disease processes.
• Designs customized adaptive aids based on assessment of patients' abilities and disabilities.
• Manages advanced medical and behavioral risk factors for medically/mentally/physically compromised patients including indication of administration of adjunctive therapies Serves as member of relevant hospital committees and patient wellness programs.
• Provides oral/written tobacco cessation education and works with our tobacco cessation coordinator.
• Provides oral/written training protocols for the dental hygiene students. Provides oral health presentations to nursing staff, diabetic educators, and other disciplines.
• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
• Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Assesses clinical findings, including normal and critical lab results, and adapt care based on findings.
• Interviews patient and assesses patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities.
• Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health.
• Recognizes age-related changes in individual patients, adapts patient's environment, and maximizes patient's physical comfort.
• Provides routine oral prophylaxis, gross debridement, soft tissue curettage, and deep scaling and root planning procedures to patients with complex periodontal/restorative conditions and complex medical/psychiatric issues.
• Utilizes advanced adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic equipment (e.g. sonic, magnetostrictive ultrasonic, and piezo ultrasonic scalers).
• Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable.
• Performs advanced adjunctive treatment such as dietary analysis for caries risk and nutritional counseling to control and prevent caries, and applies appropriate fluoride solutions.
• Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed - Applies desensitizing and sealant materials.
• Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays.
• Administers topical anesthetic agents.
• Administers local anesthetic.
• Administers local anti-microbial agents per direction of dentist.
• Develops a plan for management of xerostomia especially in patients receiving chemotherapy and/or head and neck radiation.
• Works in collaboration with VA or Non-VA periodontists on periodontal cases.
• Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols.
• Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition.
• Develops, prepares, and provides both individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients, and caregivers.
• Presents oral health education classes for patients in collaboration with other disciplines such as: Diabetes Education program with nutrition clinic, primary care, optometry, etc.
• Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized.
• Recognizes common pathologies and utilizes advanced radiographic technique and equipment to detect abnormalities.
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory.
• Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization per VA Dental Infection Control Standard Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care.
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images.
• Assists patients in scheduling appointments.
• Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments.
• Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records.
• Maintains patient confidentiality of written and verbal information, per HIPAA.
• Provides oversight and coordination of the Dental Hygiene Student Rotation in collaboration with the program director, Sheridan College Dental Hygiene Program director and faculty, and dental hygiene students.
• Provides hands-on clinical instruction to dental hygiene or dental assisting students during their clinic rotations, including all training required by the Sheridan College Dental Hygiene Program (e.g. grading calibration, required documentation, reporting processes, etc.)

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.

Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist.
(a) Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), Temporary Full Time Appointments, Part-Time Appointments and Without-Compensation Appointments for a Period Not to Exceed Two Years.
(b) Non-certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a certified dental hygienist at or above the full performance level.
(c) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
(d) Temporary appointments of non-certified dental hygienist may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.

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)

GRADE DETERMINATIONS

Dental Hygienist, GS-10 (Advanced Clinical)
Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that is directly related to the position being filled fully meets the KSAs at that level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-09 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

i. Knowledge of medical assessment techniques including interviewing and evaluating clinical findings (e.g. normal and critical lab values) to adapt treatment based on medical and psychological issues.
ii. Advanced knowledge of oral and dental anatomy including root anatomy, common pathologies and anomalies, and indications for advanced radiographic imaging and proper technique to detect potential abnormalities.
iii. Knowledge of medical treatment adjuncts and indications and the ability to safely administer medicaments (e.g. intrasulcular medicaments, local anesthesia, sulcular lavage, applying and removing periodontal surgical dressing).
iv. Knowledge of advanced adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, indication for use and ability to utilize safely (e.g. sonic, magnetostrictive ultrasonic, and piezo ultrasonic scalers).
v. Skill in providing safe and thorough prophylaxis, root planing and soft-tissue curettage for complex periodontal and/or restorative cases and skill in providing safe care for patients with complex medical/psychiatric issues.
vi. Ability to apply adult education techniques/methods, organize curriculum, judge cognitive ability, and provide healthcare education regarding relationships between medical and dental pathologies to groups, interdisciplinary staff, and other outside contacts.

GS-9 level 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.

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: Minimum 1 year clinical hygiene.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Long periods of sitting and recurring bending and reaching are required while performing dental hygiene procedures. The hygienist must also demonstrate above average dexterity in manipulating sharp dental instruments and demonstrations of oral hygiene techniques.

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.