Dental Hygienist

Job Title

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public and embraces the VA's Core Values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence (ICARE)
• Demonstrates knowledge and application of patient and family centered care in written care plans, instructions to patients, and in observation of the actual care provided
• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Assesses patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to allow for safe patient care
• Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health
• Recognizes age-related and physical changes in individual patients and adapts patient environment to maximize patient comfort
• Skill in detecting dental plaque and calculus, oral abnormalities and pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for all dental hygiene procedures
• Provides routine oral prophylactic care
• Provides gross debridement, scaling and root planing procedures
• Selects the appropriate fluoride products and understands indications/limitations for safe and proper application
• Applies oral desensitizing and sealant materials
• Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable
• Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when appropriate
• Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays
• Administers topical and local anesthetic agents (per State license)
• Performs routine dental operatory equipment care and maintenance
• Maintains dental operatory stock items and surveys routinely for expired products
• Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Explains hygiene procedures, indications, complications and expected outcomes to individual patient and caregiver
• Properly utilizes dental radiographic equipment, radiation safety techniques and barriers

Work Schedule: Monday-Fridays, 7:30am to 5:00pm (8,9, or 10 hour shifts available)

Telework: Not authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized