Is this course approved?
Yes, the course is approved by the Tennessee
Board of Dentistry. You will receive 32 hours of continuing education credit when you complete the course.
Who is eligible?
Applicants must be currently licensed dental hygienists in
the State of Tennessee.
How is the course organized? The
course has a didactic portion and a clinical portion. Much of
the
didactic material will be provided online. The
clinical portion will be held at convenient, approved locations
across the state. Go
to "see a sample" at the top of the page to get a feel for
the online portion.
Will I need a
textbook for the course? Yes,
you will need to purchase the Handbook of Local Anesthesia, fifth
edition, by Stanley Malamed. (ISBN: 978-0-323-03353-4) It can be
purchased online. If you buy a used text, be sure the enclosed
DVD comes with it.
What type of computer equipment will I
need? Any computer with an internet
connection will be adequate for this course, but a high speed internet
connection for your computer is highly desirable. In addition you
will need to have the computer program Adobe Reader installed if
you don't have it already. It is free. Just go to
http://adobe.com
Will I be giving and
receiving local anesthesia during the clinical portion? Yes,
after sufficient practice, you will administer local anesthesia on a
student partner.
After taking the course,
am I certified to give local anesthesia? No,
you must administer local anesthesia several times in your practice
and be certified by your employer dentist as being competent before
becoming certified by the State of Tennessee.
I have not taken a test
in years. How can I pass the test? The
online portion of the course offers numerous practice tests.
Those tests are not only excellent learning tools, they also help
you prepare for the certification examination. Again, go to
"see a sample" to take an online test.
When is the course offered?
The course is offered several times during the year. Once you
register and pay for the course, you can begin taking the online
portion.
Who are the
instructors? The principle clinical
instructor is Dr. William Johnson,
a dental educator and practitioner with 40 years of clinical
experience. Dr. Johnson will be assisted by dental hygienists
certified to administer local anesthesia.
How
much does it cost? $900.
That does not include the cost of the textbook.
When do I have to
pay? Within 14 days after
registering. If we do not receive payment by then, we will
assume you changed your mind and we will offer your position to
someone else on the waiting list.
What is your refund policy?
You will receive a full refund (minus a $100
processing fee) if you cancel at least 14 days before taking the
clinical portion of the course.
If you cancel less than 14 days before the course, you will receive a
50% refund.
How
do I register for the course? Simply go to the
Register
at the top of this page.
Do I have to contact the Board of
Dentistry afterwards? Yes, but
we will assist you and provide you the necessary forms.
What will I learn?
After completing this course, you
will be competent at the following as they relate to the administration of
local anesthesia;
 | Instruction in the philosophy and
psychology of local anesthesia, |
| Evaluation of a patient's medical
history and physical status including measurement of vital
signs, |
| Recognition of indications and
contraindications for use, |
| Identification of anatomical landmarks
that pertain to administration, |
| Understanding of the physiology of nerve
conduction, |
| Understanding of the pharmacology of
local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors,
|
| Selection and preparation of proper
armamentaria, |
| Recording of local anesthetic procedures
and complications, |
| Management of medical and legal
complications, |
| Recognition and management of
post-injection complications and management of reactions of
injections, |
| Employment of infection control
techniques including disposal of sharp's, |
| Methods of administering local
anesthetic agents with emphasis on:
| Technique, |
| aspiration, |
| slow injection, |
| minimum effective dosage, |
|
| Prevention, diagnosis and
management of medical emergencies, |
| Recognition, management and treatment of
toxic reactions to local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors, |
| Recognition, management and treatment of
allergic reactions to local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors, |
| Recognition, management and treatment of
drug interactions with local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors, |
| Ability to calculate highest safe dose
based on patient's weight and/or age, |
| Recognition for the need of reinjection, |
| Administration of local anesthesia
infiltration, |
| Administration of local anesthesia for
nerve blockage, |
| Monitoring of the patient's physical
status while under the effects of local anesthetics. |
