Dental Continuing Education Home Study Courses

NEW This course discusses the inadequate access to dental care for underserved populations including the poor, the elderly, children, the disabled, the under educated and certain racial and ethnic groups. How cultural barriers can affect proper dental care is also reviewed. Results of inadequate dental care, the role of insurance and Medicaid, along with some solutions to dental care access are identified.

NEW This course discusses the science of addiction by reviewing how addiction develops and some factors leading to chemical dependency. Strategies for dealing with substance abuse through prevention, as well as some treatment options for substance abusers, along with managing a drug free workplace will be reviewed. (Meets Chemical Dependency Requirement in TN).

NEW This course will review the components and fundamental concepts of digital radiography (digital imaging). Also discussed will be the advantages and disadvantages, basic infection control for intra-oral digital receptors, common errors associated with digital imaging and the difference between direct and indirect digital imaging.

NEW This course is intended to provide awareness and a better understanding of the connection between optimal nutrition and its impact on oral health. Topics discussed include dietary considerations for the dental patient, nutritional counseling in the dental practice and how a diet affects dental caries and periodontal disease. Also, vitamins, minerals, major nutrients and antioxidants are reviewed.

NEW This course is intended to provide awareness and a deeper understanding of the risks associated with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Oral Cancer. Dental office screening protocols will be reviewed, as well as, clinical signs and symptoms of oral cancer.

NEW This course helps dental professionals to identify patients who are at-risk or highly susceptible to infection, from opportunistic infectious diseases, as a result of dental procedures and/or pre-existing medical conditions. The dental professional will become familiar with oral and systemic infections and how some may result as a side effect of dental procedures and routine oral care. Some of the topics covered include: localized infection, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, bacterial endocarditis, acid reflux, herpes virus, hepatitis B and D and coxsackie virus. Readers will learn to identify appropriate prophylactic and post-procedural antibiotic treatments, and be aware of specific procedures that may create a higher risk of infection.

NEW This course will review the most commonly used topical and local anesthetics in dentistry. Also discussed will be the use of vasoconstrictors with local anesthetics to assist in achieving and maintaining anesthesia; how local anesthetics are metabolized and excreted by the body and reversal agents for local anesthetics. Also, the importance of a good patient medical history will be reviewed

NEW This course will review nitrous oxide equipment operations, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using nitrous oxide, review incremental and rapid induction techniques, briefly discuss the respiratory system and summarize ADA guidelines for nitrous oxide. Also, complications of using nitrous oxide will be reviewed.

NEW This course will discuss viral diseases which effect the oral cavity and surrounding facial tissues. The viruses will include the Herpes Virus family, Human Papilloma Virus, Measles, Mumps, Chickenpox, Shingles and HIV. Also discussed will be treatments and prognosis of the viruses and opportunistic infections which cause problems for HIV patients.

NEW This course will discuss the role of the dental professional in oral cancer detection, how biological changes can promote oral cancer and review the stages of oral cancer of the lip and oral cavity. Also reviewed are the examination steps for oral, head and neck cancer and teaching oral self examinations to the patient.

NEW This course discusses the oral manifestations of varied disease processes and conditions, the most prevalent oral side effects of medications used to treat systemic diseases and the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy on the oral cavity. Some diseases reviewed are STD’s such as candidiasis, HIV/AIDS and oral hairy leukoplakia, psychiatric diseases and autoimmune diseases. Pregnancy and menopause are also discussed.

NEW This course will provide dental practitioners with an understanding of osteoporosis, along with its prevention, causes, treatment options and detection using dental x-rays. Also discussed will be nutrients which are needed to build bone, anti-nutrients which lead to bone disease, side effects of some commonly used osteoporosis medications and oral early warning signs of osteoporosis.

NEW This course will discuss atherosclerosis or hardening of arteries and how panoramic radiographs can be used to identify atherosclerotic lesions during a routine dental exam. Also, patients at high risk for atherosclerosis and screening measures for atherosclerosis are reviewed.

NEW This course defines a special needs patient, which includes people with both mental and physical disabilities. Disabilities such as: Alzheimer’s, Cerebral Palsy, Eating Disorders, Heart Conditions, Down Syndrome, Diabetes, ADHD, Autism, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s are reviewed. The reader will understand how to accommodate the requirements of some special needs patients to aid them in maintaining proper oral healthcare when possible. Some dental organizations are identified which can assist the disabled population.

NEW This course will review alcoholism, drug addiction, illicit drugs and tobacco, list some of the more commonly abused drugs and discuss drug use and abuse among age groups. Also, identifying and managing an addicted patient will be discussed along with an overview of substance abuse treatment. (Meets Chemical Dependency Requirement in TN).

This course discusses the nutrients important to periodontal tissue growth and repair, and which foods and supplements supply them. It helps dental professionals to gain a better understanding of the periodontal tissue structure and the changes it undergoes when diseased. After studying the course, practitioners will understand the different types and amounts of nutrients and vitamins necessary for periodontal health, and how periodontal health relates to overall health.

This course is a review of the California Dental Practice Act. Topics covered include: the definition of the Practice of Dentistry, Acts violating the Dental Practice Act, License Requirements, Prescriptions and CURES and Duties of Dental Auxiliaries. Each topic in the Act is not covered due to the Act's length, only the sections which are most likely to impact your dental career.

This course explores the causes, prevalence, and symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus types I and II. The reader will learn how to identify possible cases of diabetes, how to treat diabetic emergencies, and the effect diabetes has on dental health. Additionally, the prevention of diabetes is discussed, along with managing the dental patient, giving dental professionals information they can share with their patients.

This course enables dental professionals to realize the magnitude and epidemic prevalence of domestic violence and gain an understanding of the signs, symptoms, and injuries indicative of possible domestic violence. This course also helps dental professionals realize the reluctance of many victims to reveal the true cause of their injuries and gives them resources to share with their patients.

This course enables dental professionals to understand Sjogren's Syndrome, commonly known as dry mouth, by discussing its prevalence, causes, and symptoms. In addition, the reader will understand how to diagnose dry mouth and talk to patients about the condition. Dental professionals will learn of the available treatments for dry mouth and how to administer them.

This course discusses which medications should be included in an emergency kit, the proper uses of emergency kit medications, and which medications to use in different emergency situations. Sections include first-line emergency drugs, second-line emergency drugs, and supplementary drugs. The course provides dental professionals with information they need to make informed decisions in emergency situations.

This course is designed to help the dental professional understand the Florida Dental Practice Act - its purpose, scope, and the regulatory structure created by it. Dental professionals will learn of the requirements that dentists must fulfill under the Act and the rights afforded dentists under the Act, as well as duties that a dentist may delegate. Additionally, the scope of practice for dental hygienists is covered, making this course ideal for both dentists and hygienists. Finally, the course discusses prohibitions against certain conduct and grounds for disciplinary action for violations of the Act.

This course offers an overview of Hepatitis B. The reader will learn how Hepatitis B is transmitted and progresses, recognize risk factors and symptoms, and understand vaccination and treatment options. In addition, dental professionals will be given the guidelines they need to successfully implement a postexposure management program within the dental practice.

This course offers an overview of Hepatitis C. The reader will learn how Hepatitis C is transmitted and progresses, recognize risk factors and symptoms, and understand current treatment options available to people infected with the virus. In addition, dental professionals will be given the guidelines they need to successfully implement a postexposure management program within the dental practice.

This course is an overview of Hepatitis strains A through H. The reader will learn how to identify risk factors and symptoms of hepatitis, understand available vaccination and treatment options, and recognize appropriate prevention techniques for each type of hepatitis. In addition, dental professionals will be given the guidelines they need to successfully deal with postexposure management and implement a successful exposure management program within the dental practice.

This course discusses the epidemiology of HIV and AIDS, the effect of HIV on the immune system, clinical manifestations of HIV and AIDS, and modes of HIV transmission. Also discussed are the means of preventing HIV infection and the treatment of HIV disease and AIDS, topics dental professionals can discuss with patients. The course also covers infection control procedures recommended for the dental practice and clinical manifestations of dental patients with HIV disease.

This course is not currently approved for Kentucky.

This course discusses the role dental professional plays in nutrition education and extensively covers the major eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating are defined and described including physical signs and symptoms, medical complications, and characteristic behaviors of persons with the disorders. The course also covers cultural, personal, and social factors that lead to eating disorders and available treatments. Of special interest are intervention strategies for the dental professional, proper dental care and hygiene for patients with eating disorders, and the oral manifestations of eating disorders.

This course is a review of the Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct as set forth by the American Dental Association. It does not cover, in detail, each and every ethical rule and advisory opinion contained in the Code, but does discuss the principles of ethics, the Code of Professional Conduct, and principles of patient autonomy. Readers will also learn the principles of doing no harm, and duties of a dental professional to provide dental care. Also discussed are rules regarding patient records, and testifying in legal proceedings. Other topics reviewed relate specifically to the Indiana Code and Statutes and Rules.

This course details the history and advances in infection control that have led to a safer working environment for dental professionals and patients. Procedures and practices that can provide effective protection against infection and cross-contamination are covered, as well as physical barriers and standard precautions, and the different types of pathogenic transmission. Included is an overview of the diseases that commonly present the greatest concerns among dental professionals and their patients. There is also a review of the CDC Guidelines for Healthcare in the Dental Setting.

This course explores osseointegration, or creating a stable bone anchorage of an oral implanted metal tooth to bone. It discusses why this approach is better than soft-tissue anchorages and helps the dental professional gain an understanding of the working definition of osseointegration, the important factors for reliable bone anchorage of an oral implant, and the biocompatible materials for osseointegration. Also discussed are how physical implant design and surface characteristics play a role in bone tissue integration and how host bone surgical technique and load consideration affect osseointegration.

This course introduces dental professionals to the complexities of latex allergies, including the reasons for increased prevalence of latex allergy, latex allergy statistics, and the possible risk factors for latex allergy. It provides information that will allow dental professionals to differentiate between and describe the three types of latex reactions, give examples of latex allergy symptoms, evaluate prevention methods, and uncover inconsistencies in latex glove composition.

This course assists the dental professional in identifying and attending to the more common medical emergencies encountered in the dental office. The dental professional will learn how to assign a medical risk level to their patients, how to address drug related emergencies and how to attend to an unconscious patient. A sample office emergency protocol form is included, as well as suggested contents for emergency kits.

This course explores the relationship between nutrition and chronic disease and alerts the reader to the consequences of a poor diet. Included are discussions of the components of a healthy diet, the relationship between health and diet, and the nature of chronic disease. Also covered is the link between diet and several major diseases: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis. After completing this course, dental professionals will be able to give their patients sound advice on how to eat a healthy, nutritious diet that promotes general wellness, and helps patients avoid chronic disease.

This course provides dental professionals with a review of the nutritional components required for good dental health and clarifies their role in providing nutrition education to their patients. Topics discussed include the status of dental health in the United States, the general relationship between nutrition and dental health, and the role of the dental hygienist in providing nutrition education. Readers will also learn current dietary guidelines for the United States, nutrition and dietary factors related to dental caries, and the role of key nutrients in building strong teeth and gums. Upon completing this course, dental professionals will be in a position to advise their patients on how best to eat in order to preserve dental health.

This course explores the link between healthy eating and overall well-being. Topics discussed include: the factors which influence food choices, the influence of diet on health and disease, and essential nutrients and how to obtain them. It also examines the current dietary guidelines recommended by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services and the revised MyPyramid food pyramid, which helps to implement this approach. Once a dental professional has completed this course, they will be able to make basic recommendations to patients concerning healthy eating habits.

This course discusses pain and its relation to the practice of dentistry. By adequately managing pain, dental professionals may clear the way for improved dental health among those patients who view dental visits as "too painful" based on their experiences with pain and anxiety. This course will discuss how to identify pain as it relates to dental patients, manage pain thru use of minimally invasive dentistry, analgesics, lasers, micro air abrasion and dental spas and pain prevention thru preventative care. Also, special considerations in pain management for children, pregnant women, the elderly and the disabled will be reviewed.

This course will discuss oral health maintenance in adults and children and how important it is for the patient to maintain a rigid oral health maintenance program through proper home care and regular dental visits after periodontal treatment. In addition, local and systemic antibiotic therapy, supragingival and subgingival irrigation, home care devices (including oral irrigators and power toothbrushes), dentrifices, mouthrinses and treatment considerations for periodontal health maintenance are discussed.

This course is a review of the possible adverse drug to drug reactions of some of the more commonly seen and used drugs in the office. This course enlightens dental professionals about drug combinations to avoid and which situations present the most opportunity for adverse drug interactions.

This course discusses the identification and prevention of medical errors in dentistry. It allows the dental professional to understand the types and magnitude of medical errors and the factors that contribute to an increased risk of medical errors. The course also explains how to identify populations vulnerable to medical errors, dental professionals' responsibility for reporting medical errors, and the processes to implement that will reduce the occurrence of medical errors.

This course is a review of the Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct as set forth by the American Dental Association. It does not cover, in detail, each and every ethical rule and advisory opinion contained in the Code, but does discuss the principles of ethics, the Code of Professional Conduct, and principles of patient autonomy. Readers will also learn the principles of doing no harm, duties of a dental professional to provide dental care, and rules for utilizing non-profit and commercial referral services. Also discussed are rules regarding patient records, dental professionals' ethical obligations to HIV positive patients, and testifying in legal proceedings. Other topics are advertising, specialization and limitation of practice, substance abuse, and ethical rules regarding misrepresentation in the practice.

Indiana residents please select Indiana Ethics, Statutes and Rules for your required course.

This course is designed to help dental professionals learn to deal with the uncertainty of modern living and the demands of personal and professional live in order to provide better care for their patients and themselves. Readers will learn to identify major sources of stress and to change perceptions of these stressors when they cannot be avoided, making them better able to focus on the job of providing dental care. After completing this course dental professionals will be familiar with stress and the dental professional, the fight or flight response, definitions and causes of stress, the signs and symptoms of stress, the health consequences of stress, effective stress management strategies, and a 'good' stress level for optimal health.

This course deals with adult substance abuse and its effects on general and dental health. After completing this course, dental professionals will be able to identify a patient with a substance abuse problem, identify symptoms of withdrawal from specific substances and comprehend the negative health effects of alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, tobacco and OTC and prescription drugs. They will also be able to differentiate between alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse and to understand and distinguish between the terms, substance abuse and chemical dependency. (Meets Chemical Dependency requirement for TN).

This course discusses facts about pediatric substance abuse or chemical dependency, the factors that cause children to be at risk for substance abuse, and ways dental professionals can help prevent and treat substance abuse in their young patients. Upon completing this course, dental professionals will have a basic knowledge of current substance abuse trends among children and understand what causes a child to be at risk for substance abuse. They will also learn mechanisms for preventing and treating pediatric substance abuse and should feel more comfortable addressing pediatric substance abuse issues. In this way, they will be better prepared to offer assistance to their younger patients and their parents should the need arise. (Meets Chemical Dependency requirement for TN).

This course provides dental professionals with information about teeth whitening. A brief history of bleaching is discussed, along with intrinsic and extrinsic staining. Internal and external teeth bleaching are discussed along with their adverse reactions. Some external bleaching topics discussed include: tray versus strip delivery, OTC products, dentrifices and general side effects.

This course examines tobacco use in the United States and the various effects it has on dental health. After completing this course, dental professionals will be able to differentiate among the various type of tobacco uses and the subsequent risk each type imposes, identify the reasons why cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are the prime risk factors for oral cancer, and determine why smokeless tobacco users have a high risk of dental caries. Readers will also be able to explain tobacco's added risk factors for periodontal disease and recognize the possible effects of maternal smoking on pregnancy. They will understand the risks of environmental tobacco smoke on nonsmokers and children and be able to discuss tobacco's other effects on dental care. This will enable them to offer educated counsel to their smoking patients and give them sound reasons to quit.