U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring: Dental Hygienist in Portland

Overview

Join to apply for the Dental Hygienist role at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. The Dental Hygienist position is located in the Portland VA Healthcare center. The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the supervision of the dentist and senior hygienist and performs other clinical and clerical functions.

The Dental Hygienist position is located in the Portland VA Healthcare center. The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the supervision of the dentist and senior hygienist and performs other clinical and clerical functions.

Duties

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Assesses patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to allow for safe patient care
• Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health; recognizes age-related and physical changes in individual patients and adapts patient environment to maximize patient comfort
• Skill in detecting dental plaque and calculus, oral abnormalities and pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for all dental hygiene procedures
• Provides routine oral prophylactic care
• Provides gross debridement, scaling and root planing procedures
• Selects the appropriate fluoride products and understands indications/limitations for safe and proper application
• Applies oral desensitizing and sealant materials
• Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable
• Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when appropriate
• Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays
• Administers topical and local anesthetic agents (per State license)
• Performs routine dental operatory equipment care and maintenance
• Maintains dental operatory stock items and surveys routinely for expired products
• Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols

Work Schedule

Tuesday-Friday, 6:30am to 5:00pm (4 x 10 hour days per week)

Compressed/Flexible: Available

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements. Effective May 7, 2025, driver s licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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).
• 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) CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs; (2) Education outside the United States must be considered equivalent and enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.

• Licensure/Certification: Licensure in a State/territory/DC with a full, current and unrestricted license. Certification for radiologic procedures as required by 42 C.F.R. Part 75.

• Exceptions for Non-Certified Dental Hygienist: Temporary appointments may be available for graduates; non-certified individuals must work under supervision at entry level and may not be promoted until certification.

• Foreign Education: Foreign education must be equivalent as determined by a private organization.

Grade Determinations

Dental Hygienist, GS-05: Experience none beyond basic requirements.

Dental Hygienist, GS-06: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level; KSAs required include knowledge of prophylactic procedures, intra- and extra-oral methods, and communication skills.

Dental Hygienist, GS-07: At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level with KSAs including knowledge of oral pathology, systemic relations to dental health, and radiographic quality.

Dental Hygienist, GS-08: At least one year of experience with KSAs including preventive measures, anatomy/physiology for radiographs, regulatory knowledge (TJC/OSHA), and patient education.

Dental Hygienist, GS-09: At least one year of experience with KSAs including radiography usage, fluorides, and advanced patient care and education.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit VA Qualification Standards.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade for selection ranges GS-5 to GS-9.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Education

Note: Only education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Additional information

Various notices about benefits, credit for prior service, and other standard VA job posting disclosures apply. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. If you cannot apply online, contact the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.