Local Anesthesia for Dental Hygienists: Certification Course

Course Description

This course acquaints the dental hygienist with the academic and practical aspects of administration of local
anesthetics in dental patients. It provides the student with the required training and information to safely and
effectively relieve pain and reduce anxiety in the dental patient. It requires that the student apply knowledge from
pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology and anatomy. The student should also realize that competency, and
ultimately proficiency, in the administration of local anesthesia requires repeated administration and periodic self-reeducation.

Course Goals

The goals of this class are to assist the dental hygienist to become:

• Knowledgeable in the use and administration of local anesthetics
• Knowledgeable in the pharmacology, neurophysiology, neurochemistry and anatomy related to the
  administration of local anesthetics
• Knowledgeable and competent in the physical and psychological evaluation of the patient prior to receiving local
  anesthetic or dental treatment
• Knowledgeable in the side effects, complications and the management of those problems associated with local
  anesthetics

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of the course, the participant will be trained in:

• Scope of pain and anxiety control
• Neurophysiology
• Pharmacology of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors
• Armamentarium
• Physical and psychological evaluation
• Anatomic considerations, clinical application and supplemental injection techniques
• Local and systemic complications

Prerequisites

• Purchase Malamed textbook (listed under Required Materials)
• Copy of current license
• Copy of completed UF HIPAA and Confidentiality Statement
• Current CPR

Course Materials

• Course Curriculum Guide – UFCDE-Local_Anesthesia_Course.pdf
• Malamed, Stanley, F. “Handbook of Local Anesthesia, 6th Edition” (*Required Textbook & DVD – not included in fee)
  • Suggested Sources:
  • Amazon.com
  • Elsevier/Mosby (Publisher)

Faculty

• Dr. Samuel B. Low – Course Director, Department of Periodontics
• Dr. Ulrich Foerster – Pre-Doc Course Director, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dr. Matthew Dennis – Emergency Medical Procedures, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Location

UF College of Dentistry
1395 Center Drive
Gainesville, FL 32610

888-550-4590 (toll-free)

Continuing Education Units

60 contact hours. Participation.

• 30 hr. didactic (15 hr. live and 15 hr. web-based)
• 30 hr. clinical (15 hr. live and 15 hr. observational)

Hands-On Workshop

Program Format – due to the nature of the program registrations will close two weeks prior to the course.

* Must attend both live weekend sessions and finish all web-based and observational criteria to complete the program.

• Weekend one (Saturday/Sunday) 8 am – 5 pm
  • Saturday 7.5 hours didactic
  • Sunday 7.5 hours clinical
• Weekend two (Saturday/Sunday) 8 am – 5 pm
  • Saturday 7.5 hours didactic
  • Sunday 7.5 hours clinical

For more information contact:

Michelle Hopkins
888-550-4590 (toll-free)
mhopkins@dental.ufl.edu

Registration Fee

The University of Florida is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider and a member of the Association for Continuing Dental Education.