The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions, and other duties as assigned.
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 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-9: 55108-F
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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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: Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 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. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by CODA at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CODA website (https://coda.ada.org/find-a-program), you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
RYAN.PEARSON@VA.GOV
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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