Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Columbia, South Carolina

Salary Range: $61111 - $79443 Per Year

Job Summary: 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. 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.

Major Duties:

• Duties include but not limited to: 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 and inter­ service communication. Customer Service/Veteran-Centered Care: Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public. Assists customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery; Delivers care that reflects the Veteran's and the family's personal goals, personal preferences, and freedom of choice. Demonstrates knowledge and application of patient and family-centered care in written care plans, instructions to patients, and in observation of the actual care provided. Demonstrates non-judgmental understanding of the Veteran's and family's knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds. Demonstrates collaborative orientation to working with patients and families. Patient Care: Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Complies with patient identification, time-out, and reusable medical equipment processes. Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Takes and records vital signs, reviews medical history. Charts oral conditions. Assesses patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications, and comorbidities; Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health. Recognizes age-related changes in individual patients, adapts patient. environment, and maximizes patient's physical comfort. Provides routine oral prophylactic care. Provides gross debridement, scaling and root planning procedures. Provides subgingival curettage. Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable. Applies appropriate topical fluoride solutions or varnishes. Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed; Administers topical anesthetic agents; Applies desensitizing agents. Performs routine maintenance of equipment components such as suction traps, water lines, etc. Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection-control protocols. Patient Education: Provides patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition. Explains hygiene procedures, indications, complications and expected outcomes to individual patient and caregiver. Prepares and provides education on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, and effect of illness, addictions, medications, and tobacco on the oral cavity. Dental Imaging: Takes diagnostic quality images that are accurately oriented and exposed; Utilizes dental­ imaging safety techniques with minimal retakes. Infection control and Equipment Sterilization: Demonstrates proper infection-control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory and in exposing images. Properly prepares instruments for sterilization by SPS standards; Prepares instruments in a manner that does not delay clinical care. Clerical Functions: Assists patients in scheduling appointments. Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Information Management: Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information; Follows computer security regulations. Patient Safety: Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position); Modifies care based on patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications, and comorbidities. Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients. Participates in patient identification and time out per TJC requirements; Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. Employee Education: Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual training sessions. Maintains all continuing education requirements for professional licensure, certifications, etc. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm. (Intermittent, 2-3 Saturdays per month). Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 544-59276F. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Qualifications: Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Be a Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with [38 U.S.C § 7407(a), Administrative Provisions for Section 7405 and 7406 Appointments.] English Language Proficiency: Dental hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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/Certification: 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 3.b., the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Dental Hygienist, GS-09 Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of hygiene procedures 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. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure. 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. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to administer 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. Preferred Experience: None. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09.?? Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. See https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/OCHCO/SitePages/D5019.aspx VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/30/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12830887. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-09-30