Title: Dental Hygienist - LW036

State Role Title: Health Care Technologist II

Hiring Range: $42,905 - $73,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: LENOWISCO HQ

Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/lenowisco

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The VDH LENOWISCO HEALTH DISTRICT (LNW) seeks to fill a full-time dental hygienist position based at the Wise County Health Department. The Dental Hygienist works under the direction of a Virginia licensed dentist and in accordance with regulations of the Virginia Department of Health Professions and the State Board of Dentistry for the practice of dental hygiene. To perform preventative dental procedures including pit and fissure sealants as well as administrative tasks necessary for the function of a dental clinic. Follows OSHA guidelines, disinfects and disposes of infectious waste, monitors autoclave. Establishes and maintains a dental recall system. Develops and provides oral health outreach programs for the community. Identifies health needs of clients for referral. Serves other populations when school is out to include WIC clinics.

1. Performance Management (if applicable)
 Serves in a supervisory capacity and conducts performance
management activities for staff
 Establishes and reviews work assignments and priorities, and resolves
related managerial/supervisory issues, in conjunction with program
management and Human Resource staff
 Ensures relevant training and workplace safety for staff and conducts
appropriate performance monitoring and appraisals
2. Program Management
 Follows established state guidelines, policies and procedures to
implement the statewide Bright Smiles for Babies (BSB) and Dental
Sealant Programs in the targeted Health District(s); the BSB program
includes applying fluoride varnish to the teeth of children under 5
years, providing anticipatory guidance for the parent or caregiver and
documenting the status of the teeth through screening and charting
the dentition
 Under a new practice protocol, manages a mobile school based
dental sealant program in a health district(s) which includes working
with the school administrations, screening school children, providing
preventive services where requested and applying dental sealants,
educating children and parents, promoting the program and working
with local public and private dentists in the district(s) to refer children
with treatment needs
 As a licensed dental hygienist, practices according remote supervision
per the Regulations of the Board of Dentistry
 Orders/receives supplies to maintain inventory according to VDH
procurement guidelines
 Works with Dental Association on Mission of Mercy projects
3. Education/Training
 Plans, implements and evaluates oral health education and training
activities for parents and medical and dental providers in the targeted
Health District(s) using Bright Smiles for Babies and Dental Sealant
Program materials
 Provides parental education to parents of children birth to age 5 in
the WIC clinics and Early Head Start/Head Start programs and school
children in the Dental Sealant Program
 Conducts trainings regarding the BSB program for VDH staff, health
professionals, and the staff of community agencies
4. Program Evaluation/Data Collection
 Collects data to evaluate the effectiveness of the fluoride varnish and
dental sealant programs for the Dental Health Program
 Through the collection and reporting of data on preschool and school
age children, assists the Dental Health Program in reporting state
indicator data to the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant
 Reports data accurately
 As a licensed dental hygienist, conducts screening of children enrolled
in the WIC and Early Head Start/Head Start programs under the
guidelines of the VA Board of Dentistry
 Administers the parental questionnaire to WIC and Early Head
Start/Head Start program participants
 Completes data collection for the dental sealant program according
to the VA SEALS protocol
 Participates as an examiner for oral health surveys as coordinated by
the Dental Health Program
5. Technical Assistance and Referrals & Other Duties
 Provides technical assistance district wide for program operation
regarding maternal and early child oral health as well as the fluoride
varnish and dental sealant programs
 Assists customers (dentists, dental staff, physicians, nurses, nurse
practitioners, local public health personnel, WIC staff, school staff and
staff of other community agencies), in conducting oral health
education regarding maternal and early child oral health and the
fluoride varnish and dental sealant programs
 Reports on educational events and primary prevention information
through a variety of mediums including newspaper articles and
internal reporting
 Develops and maintains a referral for WIC children and children
identified as needing treatment from the dental sealant program,
which may include Medicaid and safety net providers including public
health dental programs, where available
 Works with the community dentists in the district(s) to provide
referrals for follow up care for children needing care
 Works with dental and medical community partners to increase
acceptance of the varnish and sealant programs
 May be required to perform other duties as assigned; may be
required to assist in the event of an emergency declaration

The successful candidate will be offered 40 hours of front-loaded annual leave on a one time basis.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave!

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of the skills/practices of dental hygiene; knowledge of
educational theory, techniques & methods in dental health field; knowledge
of production, arrangement & operation of visual aids; knowledge of OSHA
& HIPAA guidelines required
Strong communication skills in writing & speaking to produce educational
materials & disseminate oral health information
Ability to work effectively with people on all educational levels; maintain
effective working relationships with individuals, officials & community
agencies; stimulate interest & cooperation among various groups in carrying
out programs in oral health education; ability to supervise auxiliary staff
Must have ability to work independently, without direct supervision of
dentist; ability to maintain quality control in unconventional settings
Ability to supervise auxiliary staff
Ability to implement the Community‐based Dental Preventive Services and
programs in entire health district(s)
Ability to test equipment & systems, trouble shoot, & initiate corrective
actions

Additional Considerations

 Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene
 Current Virginia driver’s license
 Computer skills utilizing email, MS‐Word, MS‐PowerPoint preferred
 Ability to operate a portable dental unit preferred

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions. VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.
It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.
If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.
As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!
Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

Contact Information

Name: Karen Crutchfield

Phone: Not Provided

Email: karen.crutchfield@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.