Dental Hygienist

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. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Your resume must support your application responses. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Dental Hygiene Series 0682 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 (l) 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: (l) 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. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-6: 1 year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level GS-7: 1 year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 level, for Community Health Dental Hygienist 1-year of graduate education in dental hygiene or in a directly related field of study. GS-8: 1 year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level GS-9: 2 year of progressively higher level graduate education or a Master’s of equivalent degree in dental hygiene or a directly related field of study OR 1 year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-8 level. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels and positions for which both education and experience are acceptable. Evaluation of Education: The academic curriculum in dental hygiene must have been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association. Evaluation of Specialized Experience: Qualifying experience for clinical dental hygienists includes experience in performing oral prophylactic care and in providing oral health educational services to patients. Additionally, at the higher grade levels, qualifying experience includes (1) performing advanced oral prophylactic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures in cases of periodontal diseases or inflammation or on patients with other medical or dental problems, (2) placing temporary fillings, and (3) finishing amalgam restorations. Applicants for positions involving the use of X-rays must have had experience in taking and interpreting X-rays Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: GS-6: Ascertain the oral health status of the population using a variety of screening and information gathering methods. Provide educational programs for community groups, school staff and students, and other interested parties. Perform prophylactic and preventive dental procedures. Perform preliminary dental examination on new patients Prepare dental hygiene treatment plans for patients including assessment of the problem, type of oral hygiene care required, the sequence of appointments needed to complete treatment. Perform deep sub gingival scaling, root planing, curettage and administer local anesthesia. In post-operative care of oral surgery and periodontal surgery patients, perform suture removal, change dressings, apply topical anesthetics, provide home care instructions Educate patient on need for daily oral health and fluoride treatment. Instruct patients at chair side in oral hygiene, brushing and flossing techniques, and periodontal aids. GS-7: Perform advanced prophylactic and preventive dental procedures in the treatment of patients with related medical and dental problems; complete preliminary dental examinations on new patients, review patient medical and dental history for evidence of past and present conditions such as medical illnesses which may complicate or alter dental hygiene treatment, examine teeth and surrounding tissue for evidence of plaque and periodontal disease and chart findings, interpret routine x-rays to identify tooth structures, calculus and abnormalities, perform a complete oral prophylaxis on ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients, perform deep subgingival scaling, root planning and curettage under local anesthesia, polish the teeth and apply stannous fluoride for hypersensitivity and caries prevention. Provide home care instructions to patients after curettage. In postoperative care of oral surgery and periodontal surgery patients, perform suture removal, change dressings, apply topical anesthetics and provide home care instructions. Instruct patients at chairside in oral hygiene, brushing and flossing techniques and periodontal aids, plan and adapt instructions in home care techniques, expose, develop and process radiographs on patients. GS-8: Plan, coordinate, conduct and evaluate preventive oral health programs for various patient groups. Develop and revise oral health instructional materials and education techniques for specific patient groups; provide dental hygiene service to community programs through lectures, demonstration and instruction; may supervise dental assistants with the sealant program and other clinical prevention projects. GS-9: Coordinate, plan, organize, implement and evaluate the community health dental prevention program, make arrangements and maintain documentation regarding fluoride rinse programs, school sealant programs, oral health educational programs and other community based interventions. Use measurable assessment criteria to evaluate outcomes of dental hygiene care. Coordinate dental recall for high risk patients. Participate, and conduct chart reviews and competencies. 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.
A housing subsidy of up to $696.88 per pay period without dependents or $827.98 per pay period with dependents may be available. This position is located within the Indian Health Service, Dental Department, Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital, Crow Agency, MT. Incumbent reports to the Supervisory Dental Officer.