Community Health 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. Individual Occupational Requirements Basic Requirements: 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, experience, and competence as determined by OPM or the employing agency. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels and positions for which both education and experience are acceptable. GS-8: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. GS-9: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level AND/OR two (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. Evaluation of Education: The academic curriculum in dental hygiene must have been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association. Evaluation of Experience: When combining experience and education, appropriate supplemental experience for entry level Community Health Dental Hygienist must have demonstrated the ability to: Plan and direct group activities. Organize, analyze, and evaluate data, draw conclusions, and make decisions or recommendations. Express ideas and communicate information orally and in writing in a clear, logical, and motivating manner. Demonstrate and/or present new ideas, techniques, and procedures. Conduct meetings and present lectures. Deal effectively with individuals and groups. Examples of Specialized Experience: GS-8: prepare dental hygiene treatment plans for patients including assessment of the problem, type of oral hygiene treatment plans for patients including assessment of the problem; educate patients on need for daily oral health and fluoride treatment; assist the dentist by making repairs and adjustments to the teeth. GS-9: perform an extraoral and intraoral examination and oral cancer screening; explain treatment rationale, risks, benefits, anticipated outcomes, treatment alternatives, and prognosis; identify, prioritize, and sequence dental hygiene intervention; remove biofilm plaque and calculus (soft and hard deposits) from teeth both coronal and apical to (above and below) gingival margin (gumline) using dental instruments; supervise dental program projects, dental hygiene students and volunteer. Examples of work that may have provided this experience include work as a teacher, recreation leader, or leader in a community or professional organization. Evaluation of Specialized Experience: Qualifying experience for community health dental hygienists includes experience in preparing and conducting educational lectures and demonstrations on dental hygiene, planning public health programs, providing advice and policy guidance to dental personnel on public health matters, and recommending improved methods of dental hygiene. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
This position is being re-advertised to solicit additional applications. Applicant who applied previously need not reapply unless submitting updated and/or missing information. This position is located at the Ft, Thompson Service Unit in Ft. Thompson, SD. The purpose of this position is to provide comprehensive oral health education and perform advanced prophylactic and preventative dental procedures in the treatment of patients with severe dental problems.