Dental Hygienist
What you'd do
The incumbent will provide comprehensive oral health education and perform advanced prophylactic and preventive dental procedures in the treatment of patients with severe dental problems such as rampant caries, periodontal disease and medically compromised patients. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).
Major duties
Plans and conducts comprehensive, in-depth dental inspections of patients, family members. Establishes and schedules for initial dental examination. Schedules thorough prophylactics to include the use of prophylactic paste containing an anticariogenic agent and topical application of anti-cariogenic solutions and records findings to serve as a functional outline for subsequent dental procedures. Counsels patients and families on their oral health status; in the case of children, notifies parents of the more serious cases. Takes, develops and interprets intraoral and extraoral X-Rays. Maintains patient records of treatment. Ascertains the oral health status of the service unit community regarding periodontal and other oral conditions using a variety of community assessment, screening, and other information gathering methods. Provides in-service training for dental assistants, hygienists, and dentists regarding preventive oral health topics (e.g. sealants, oral hygiene instructions, OTC products, etc.). Plans, coordinates and evaluates oral health programs for optimum utilization of service unit resources (e.g. sealant retention, school-based programs, head start programs). Performs oral healthcare and risk assessments that include the review of patients' health history, taking and recording blood pressure, taking and recording blood glucose, taking and recording rapid HIV test, dental and periodontal charting, oral cancer screening and evaluation of oral disease/health.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Licensure: Applicants for all grade levels and specializations must be currently licensed to practice as dental hygienists in a State or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (1) 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 (2) be certified as radiographers in their field. The following meet these requirements: (1) Persons employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel prior to the effective date of the regulation (January 13, 1986) who show evidence of current or fully satisfactory performance or certification of such from a licensed practitioner such as a Doctor of Medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic who prescribes radiologic procedures to others.(2) Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation, or (b) practiced in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not license that particular field or did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program, provided that such persons show evidence of training, experience, and competence as determined by OPM or the employing agency. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-08: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector. Examples include: examine and assess patients, determine if systemic conditions are present and plan treatments; independently and without direct observation perform oral prophylaxis and provide therapeutic care, perform deep scaling, root planning and subgingival curettage, place temporary fillings and administer local anesthesia, place and remove rubber dams and apply sealant; provide oral health education services to individuals and groups; take, develop, and interpret intraoral and extraoral X-Rays. Outreach to community schools and teaching groups of people about oral hygiene. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
Before you apply
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