Summary

This position is at the full performance level and is located at the Santa Rosa CBOC - Dental Service. Incumbent at this grade level is expected that they provide direct patient care and receive guidance from a higher-level or supervisory staff member for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 05/19/2026.

Basic Requirements:

• To qualify for appointment as a dental hygienist - all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship
• Be a Citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with [38 U.S.C § 7407(a) - Administrative Provisions for Section 7405 and 7406 Appointments.] Licensure/Certification (1) Licensure
• Applicants must be currently licensed to practice as a dental hygienist with a full - current and unrestricted license in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• (2) Certification
• P.L
• 97-35 - Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1981 - requires persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75 - Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for and 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 and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Accredited dental hygiene 3 programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers
• (3) Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist 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
• 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 and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-certified dental hygienist may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - dental hygienists must actively pursue meeting requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the dental hygienist supervisor will provide the dental hygienist with the written requirements for licensure/certification - including the time by which the licensure/certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Management officials will remove dental hygienists from their positions who fail to obtain licensure/certification during this time period - which may result in termination of employment Loss of Credential
• Management officials will remove dental hygienists from their positions who fail to maintain the required licensure/certification - which may also result in termination of employment
• Grandfathering Provision
• 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 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• 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
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 3.b. - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Grade Determinations Dental Hygienist - GS-09 Experience
• At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
• Assignments
• Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level
• They provide 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
• Assignments at this level include but are not limited to 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 planing - 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
• 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 and 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 and indications/limitations for safe and proper application
• Skill in detecting plaque and calculus - dental abnormalities/pathologies - assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure
• Skill in educating patients and caregivers on periodontal disease - wellness - health maintenance - oral hygiene practices - parafunctional habits - and effects of illness - addictions - medications and tobacco on the oral cavity
• Ability to assess the patient's medical - dental - anxiety/phobias - medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care
• Ability to assess 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.

Duties

• Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to:· Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns - provides service recovery Sets up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Handles instruments safely - accurately - and efficiently
• Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions
• Provides gross debridement - deep scaling - and curettage and root planning procedures Cleans dental prostheses - fixed and removable Manages dental recall system - referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed Applies desensitizing materials Administers topical anesthetic agents Administers local anti-infective agents per direction of dentist Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients - outpatients - and caregivers Assist 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 CPRS patients record 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 JCAHO requirements Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress Comply with Employee Education System requirements Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Demonstrates willingness to augment facility of computer technical and program operative skills to enhance job responsibilities and clinical requirements Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am -4:30pm Could vary depending on needs of service
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 662-10043F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required