Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist Duties

The Dental Hygienist:

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
• Handles instruments safety, accurately and efficiently.
• Assists with initial or recall exams by taking radiographs and performing full mouth probing.
• Provides gross debridement and scaling/ root planning/ curettage procedures. Cleans dental prostheses fixed and removable.
• Manages the dental recall system- refers patients to the doctor/dentist for additional care when needed.
• Applies desensitizing and sealant materials.
• Makes impressions for fluoride carriers' trays.
• Administers topical anesthetic agents and accomplishes all procedures within the standards of infections control protocols.
• Properly utilizes dental radiography equipment
• Assesses proper image capture and interpretation of films. Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented, and exposed. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized.
• Demonstrate proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up the operatory. Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS standards. Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images.
• 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 per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follows computer security regulations
• Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position).
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients.
• Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements.
• Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.
• Complies with Employee Education requirements.
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• Completes mandatory education requirements.
• Maintains current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Prepares educational materials and programs and presentations to dental and medical center staff as requested.
• Actively participates in program planning, supervision, and training of dental hygiene students and dental assisting students during their educational rotation in the dental clinic.
• Participates in performance improvement activities (including collecting and analyzing data).
• Participates in committee and team functions as assigned.
• Provides 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.
• 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.
• Utilizes knowledge of the Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) processes as required by this position.
• Maintains current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, and preparation of RME appropriate to this position.
• Proficiently utilizes RME

Preferred Experience:

• Management of patient maintenance care including scaling, polishing, fluoride application and oral hygiene instruction.
• Treatment of moderate to severe periodontitis cases when directed to do so with scaling and root planning.
• Certification of administration of local anesthesia preferred.
• Works well with adult patient population.
• Willingness and ability to work as part of a dental team.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 4:00 pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Functional Statement #: GS-5: 55104-F, GS-6: 55105-F, GS-7: 55106-F, GS-8: 55107-F, GS-9: 55108-F

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit . The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-9.