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This Dental Hygienist position is located at the Tomah VA Medical Center, Tomah, Wisconsin. The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates) Education. Applicants must possess an Associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved programs are: (1) Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). (2) [Education completed outside of the United States must be considered at least equivalent to that gained in CODA accredited United States programs and would enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, which is administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.] 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. P.L. 97-35, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1981, requires persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. Part 75, Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for and the Credentialing of Radiologic Personnel. To meet this requirement, 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 meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist. (a) Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), Temporary Full-Time Appointments, Part-Time Appointments and Without-Compensation Appointments for a Period Not to Exceed Two Years. (b) Non-certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a certified dental hygienist at or above the full performance level. (c) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtain. (d) Temporary appointments of non-certified dental hygienist may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements outline above the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-9 Experience: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities i. Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each. ii. Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films. iii. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application. iv. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure. v. 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. vi. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care. vii. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/146 Part II Appendix G37 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The Dental Hygienist at the full performance level of the GS-9. Duties include: Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions Provides gross debridement, deep scaling, and curettage and root planning procedures Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed Applies desensitizing and sealant materials Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays Administers topical and local anesthetic agents Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients, and caregivers Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized Assists patients in scheduling appointments Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: Dental Hygienist/000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]