Community Health Dental Hygienist

Provide advanced prophylactic, periodontal, and preventive oral care for patients of all ages. Conducts preliminary dental screenings and reviews patient medical/dental histories.

Performs intraoral and extraoral examinations, including periodontal charting, oral cancer screening, and evaluation of soft/hard tissues for evidence of disease or pathology. Captures and interprets digital dental radiographs within scope; identifies periodontal status, caries, calculus, bone levels, and abnormalities for dentist review.

Instructs patients, families, staff, and community partners in oral hygiene techniques using demonstrations, visual aids, and culturally appropriate materials. Plan, deliver, evaluate, and document preventive oral health programs that enhance population health.

The program offers preventive, diagnostic, restorative, periodontal outreach services in clinics, schools, and community settings. Serves as principal advisor for dental health promotion and disease prevention efforts across the service unit.

Requirements: (Continued)IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers.

Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance. This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service.

Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.

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.

The Hiring Manager/Selecting Official may elect to utilize an available flexibility wherein applicants who are currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain the required licensure/certification/registration within 9 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): License: Applicants for all grade levels must be currently licensed to practice as dental hygienists in a State or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Radiological Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75.

Essentially, they must (1) 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: Persons employed by the Federal Government as radiological 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 radiological procedures to others.

Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiological 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 of 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.

In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below- MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 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: prepare and conduct educational lectures and demonstrations on dental hygiene; plan and implement preventive oral public health program; provide advice and policy guidance to dental personnel on public health matters; recommend improved methods of dental hygiene; and perform full range of preventive and periodontal dental hygiene procedures, such as conduct preliminary dental screenings, provide oral prophylaxis and hygiene treatment for patients with abnormal conditions (such as patients with cancer of the head/neck/chest area, diabetic patients, patients with blood disorders and heart disease, etc.), and develop individualized dental hygiene treatment plans based on patient needs, oral conditions, and required sequence of care.

OR Completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Master's of equivalent degree in dental hygiene or a directly related field of study; OR Combination of education and experience. The academic curriculum in dental hygiene must have been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association.

The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cut-off day of rating to be eligible for consideration.