Dental Hygienist

The Dental Hygienist provides dental oral hygiene and ancillary dental and clerical services.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Hygiene Patient Care Provide assistance to customers, provide service recovery (i.e. returning patient phone calls in a timely manner) Work collaboratively with co-workers and other medical center staff Set up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Handle instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently Provide routine dental prophylaxis, which may include supra and subgingival scaling of teeth and polishing of coronal and/or exposed surfaces of teeth Application of fluoride Debridement and/or root planing of teeth Scaling excessive cement from the surfaces of teeth and restorations Clean dental prostheses, fixed and removable Manage dental hygiene recall system Perform clinical examinations and diagnostic tests of teeth and surrounding tissues including but not limited to restorative chartings, peridodontal chartings, missing teeth chartings, caries chartings, caries activity tests, cytology smears, salivary analysis and smears, endodontic cultures, vitality tests, and recording findings for interpretation by a supervising dentist taking intra- and extra-oral photographs Applying topical anesthetics Applying topical anticariogenic agent Chairside Assisting (as needed) Employ proper techniques and dexterity in the practice of 4-handed dentistry Keep operative field clear of debris and improve access by retracting oral tissues effectively and comfortably Prepare dental medicaments and materials per manufacturers instructions Follow standard infection control protocols Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, prosthodontics, endodontics, and periodontics Dental Lab Functions (as needed) Pour impressions and prepares study models Fabricates custom impression trays Fabricates bite rims Polishes prostheses Pours, pins, and sections crown and bridge models/dies Fabricates vacuum-formed stents, soft mouth guards and fluoride trays Mounts casts on articulators Direct Patient Care (as needed) Take impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris, without the use of rotating or power-driven instruments Cement and fabricate temporary crowns/bridges with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Placing and removing temporary restorations by a non-powered method with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Take intra- and extra oral photographs Apply topical anesthetic agents with prior approval by the supervising dentist Holding and removing materials, trays, strips, and sutures previously placed in the patients mouth by the dentist Apply cavity liners and bases with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Inserting and adjusting athletic mouth guards, bleaching trays, and fluoride trays with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist Place and remove rubber dams and matrix bands Dental Imaging Exposure of radiographs of the mouth, gums, jaws, teeth, and any portion thereof for dental diagnosis with the interpretation by dentist Utilize dental imaging safety techniques Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in set-up and clean-up of operatory Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards Assist in maintenance and cleanliness of dental equipment/ environment Clerical Functions Assist in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and missed appointments Assist patients in scheduling appointments Chart findings, treatment plans by the dentist, and treatment provided in patient records Provide backup support for clerical duties such as patient check-ins, recall, and other duties typically assigned to a clerk Work Schedule: Part-Time, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:00am-4:30pm (24 hours per week) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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.