The Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System (NAVAHCS), Dental Service is currently recruiting one part-time, Dental Hygienist. The Dental Hygienist will provide dental oral hygiene and ancillary dental services to the veteran population enrolled at the VA in Prescott, Arizona. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) Education. Associate Degree or higher in an accredited dental hygiene program. This program must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Transcripts Required 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. Certification. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, 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 programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures which will meet the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). GS-09 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience as a Dental Hygienist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA's: Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities for 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. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application. Knowledge of hygiene procedures in order 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. 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. Assignments. Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. It is expected that 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 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G37 - Dental Hygienist Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: Work is generally sedentary. Flexibility is required to accommodate events and activities occurring in other than normal duty hours. Mobility is required in terms of staging and assisting staff with equipment and other required materials. ["Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Performs examinations, applies topical agents such as fluoride and antibiotics, plans periodontal treatment and provides patient education related to dental hygiene Administers oral prophylactic and dental hygiene treatment to patients presenting a variety of conditions Performs procedures, such as medical and dental history review to search for evidence of past and present conditions which may complicate or alter dental hygiene treatment Reviews patient's dietary habits and instructs patients in self-care therapy and proper diet as they relate to oral health Examines the teeth and surrounding tissues for evidence of plaque and periodontal disease and charts findings Inspects the oral cavity and pharynx for evidence of disease, such as oral cancer Interprets routine radiographs to identify anatomical structures, subgingival calculus, caries and periodontal pockets Prepares dental hygiene treatment plans including assessment of the problem, type of oral hygiene care required, and the sequence of appointments needed to complete treatment Performs a complete oral prophylaxis on ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients Performs subgingival scaling, root planning and curettage under local anesthesia Administers local anesthetics Polishes the teeth and applies fluoride for hypersensitivity and caries prevention Applies locally delivered antibiotics in periodontal pockets when indicated Desensitizes root surfaces, removes sutures, and gives post treatment instructions Takes impressions for study casts, night guards and TMJ appliances Instructs patients at chairside in oral hygiene, brushing, flossing techniques and the proper use of periodontal aids Cleans, sharpens and sends all hygiene instruments to SPS for sterilization Keeps operatory supplied with all necessary equipment, instruments and disposable supplies needed for the proper treatment of patients Electronically enters conditions of the teeth and oral tissues, progress notes, appointments and the type of treatment administered by way of the CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System) and the DRM (Dental Record Manager) programs Work Schedule: Part-time; Supervisor's Discretion Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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