Dental Hygienist (Advanced Clinical)

These Dental Hygienist (Advanced Clinical) positions are located in the Dental Service of Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. The positions are physically located in New Orleans, Louisiana and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They provide direct patient care under the general supervision of a dentist, periodontist or other specialist, and perform other clinical and clerical functions independently.

Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional Dental hygienists at this level are advanced-level practitioners who work closely with, and under the general direction of, a dentist, periodontist or other specialist. Duties include, but are not limited to: Customer Service/Veteran Centered Care: Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, coworkers, and the public. Provides assistance to 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 collaborative orientation to working with patients and families. Patient Care and Safety: Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover. Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Assesses clinical findings, including normal and critical lab results, and adapts care based on finding. Assesses patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications, and comorbidities and modifies care accordingly. Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health. Recognizes age-related changes in individual patients, and adapts patient environment to maximize patient's physical comfort. Applies appropriate topical fluoride solutions or varnishes. Indicates use for and utilizes adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic equipment safely (e.g., sonic, magnetostrictive ultrasonic, and piezo ultrasonic scalers). Provides routine oral prophylaxis, gross debridement, soft tissue curettage, deep scaling and root planning procedures to patients with complex periodontal/restorative conditions and complex medical/psychiatric issues. Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable. Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays. Administers topical and local anesthetic agents. Administers intrasulcular anti-infective agents and sulcular lavage per direction of dentist/periodontist. Applies and removes periodontal dressings per direction of dentist. Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols. Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients during procedures. Participates in patient identification and time out per TIC requirements. Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress. 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. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of oral and dental anatomy including root anatomy, common pathologies and anomalies, and indications for advanced radiographic imaging and proper technique to detect potential abnormalities. Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization: Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory to ensure instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPS standards. Prepares instruments in a manner that does not delay clinical care. Clerical Functions: Assists patients in scheduling appointments. Fills gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records. Information Management: Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follows computer security regulations. Employee Education: Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions. Work Schedule: Typically, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.. Schedule subject to change based on facility needs. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 629-00554F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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 1 or 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.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.