Dental Hygienist

Summary

Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the VA Western Colorado Health Care System. The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. 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.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

Customer Service/Veteran Centered Care

• Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, coworkers and the public.
• Assists customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery.
• Delivers care that reflects the Veteran's and the family's personal goals, personal preferences, and freedom of choice.
• 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.
• Demonstrates nonjudgmental understanding of the Veteran's and family's knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrates collaborative orientation to working with patients and families.

Patient Care

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
• Complies with patient identification, timeout and reusable medical equipment processes.
• Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Takes and records vital signs, reviews medical history. Charts oral conditions.
• 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 environment, and maximizes patient's physical comfort.
• Provides routine oral prophylactic care.
• Provides gross debridement, scaling and root planning procedures.
• Provides subgingival curettage.
• Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable.
• Applies appropriate topical fluoride solutions or varnishes.
• Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed.
• Administers local anesthesia (check to ensure hygienist's state license allows and certification is current.
• Applies desensitizing agents.
• Performs routine maintenance of equipment components such as suction traps and water lines.
• Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols.

Patient Education

• Provides patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition.
• Explains hygiene procedures, indications, complications and expected outcomes to individual patient and caregiver.
• Prepares and provides education on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, and effect of illness, addictions, medication and tobacco on the oral cavity.

Dental Imaging

• Takes diagnostic quality images that are accurately oriented and exposed.
• Utilizes dental imaging safety techniques with minimal retakes.

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization

• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory and in exposing images.
• Properly prepares instruments for sterilization by SPS standards.
• Prepares instruments in a manner that does not delay clinical care.

Clerical Functions

• 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.

Information Management

• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.
• Follows computer security regulations

Patient Safety

• Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position).
• Modifies care based on patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities.
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients.
• Participates in patient identification and time out per TJC requirements.
• Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.

Employee Education

• Complies with Employee Education requirements.
• Completes mandatory annual training sessions.
• Maintains all continuing education requirements for professional licensure, certifications.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 8 am to 4:30pm.

Telework : Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 56235-O, 56236-O, 53237-O, 53238-O, 56239-O

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

Help

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 ( 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

English Language Proficiency.

Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 & 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.

1. Licensure. Applicants must be currently licensed to practice as a dental hygienist with a full, current & unrestricted license in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
2. Certification. Persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. Part 75, Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for & 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 & 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 & 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

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). 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 7/23/2021 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held.

Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements outlined above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Dental Hygienist, GS-05:

Experience. None, beyond the basic requirements.

Dental Hygienist, GS-06:

Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-5).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of oral prophylactic, therapeutic, & preventive procedures for periodontal diseases, or inflammation, or on patients with other medical &/or dental problems.
• Knowledge of dental methods & techniques used in performing intra & extra oral procedures.
• Ability to use communication techniques to encourage & inform individuals & groups.

Dental Hygienist, GS-07:

Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of oral pathology to include disease of the hard & soft tissues, disorders of tooth structure, developmental & congenital anomalies, salivary gland disorders, symptoms of infectious disorders, & appropriate protocols.
• Practical knowledge of medical diseases, conditions, & chronic degenerative diseases as they relate to dental health & treatment.
• Knowledge of radiographic exposure techniques to produce radiographs of high diagnostic quality.

Dental Hygienist, GS-08:

Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-7) that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-7 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of state-of-the-art preventive dentistry measures for patient instruction and training.
• Knowledge of anatomy & physiology in order to interpret the examination request accurately; to understand the functioning & interrelationship of the various anatomical structures appearing on the radiographic image & the various stages of the examination to judge the acceptability of the radiograph for diagnostic use; & to present for viewing.
• Knowledge of The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), & related regulations and guidelines pertaining to dental matters.
• Skill in providing individual & group oral health care instructions to inpatients, outpatients, Nursing Home Care Unit patients, etc.

Dental Hygienist, GS-09

Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade (GS-8) level 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:

• Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process & 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 & indications/limitations for safe & proper application.
• Skill in detecting plaque & calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation & providing safe instrumentation for each procedure.
• Skill in educating patients & caregivers on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, & effects of illness, addictions, medications & tobacco on the oral cavity.
• Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications & comorbidities to administer safe patient care.
• Ability to assess the impact of patient's medical & dental condition on maintaining oral health, recognize age-related changes in individual patients, adapt patient environment, & maximize patient's physical comfort.

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: 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:

Additional information

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-5 to GS-9.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.