Dental Hygienist (Advanced Clinical)

Job Title

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Customer Service - Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public - Provides assistance to 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 non-judgmental 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 - Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently - Assess clinical findings, including normal and critical lab results, and adapt care based on findings - Interview patient and assess patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities - Assesses 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 - Provides routine oral prophylaxis, gross debridement, soft tissue curettage, deep scaling and root planning procedures to patients with complex periodontal/restorative conditions and complex medical/psychiatric issues - Safely utilizes advanced adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic equipment (e.g. sonic, magneto strictive ultrasonic, and piezo ultrasonic scalers) - Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable - Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed - Evaluate patient's caries risk and select and apply appropriate fluoride solutions - Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays - Administers topical anesthetic agents - Applies desensitizing and sealant materials - Administers local anesthetic (per State license) - Administers intrasulcular anti-infective agents and sulcular lavage per directions of dentist - Applies and removes periodontal dressings - Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Patient/Healthcare Provider Education - Provides patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition - Explains hygiene procedures, indications, complications and expected outcomes to the individual patient and caregiver - Prepares and provides education on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, and effect of illness, addictions, medications and tobacco on the oral cavity - Applies adult education techniques/methods, organizes curriculum, judges cognitive ability, and provides healthcare education regarding relationships between medical and dental pathologies to groups, interdisciplinary staff, and other outside contacts
• Dental Imaging - 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

Work Schedule: Intermittent; An intermittent work schedule is an employment type without a prearranged, regular tour of duty. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized