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Course Titles: 

CA Mandatory CE Infection Control and 

CA Dental Practice Act 

with Nancy Dewhirst, BS, RDH

4 CEU 

Meet the Dental Board of California's requirements for re-licensure and  update your knowledge of the most  important issues in clinical safety.  This class outlines the essentials of infection prevention and control,  combining Standard and Transmission-based precautions with an emphasis  on airborne risk mitigation.  Confirm the most effective strategies and  identify the weakest link in dental safety based on science and current  CDC guidelines and State regulations. 

Learning Outcomes- Upon completion, the participant  shall  be able to:

*Recognize, manage and respond to bloodborne, contact, droplet, and airborne diseases. 

*Understand your safety options and how to select bast practices.

*Meet Dental Board of California Infection control Regulations CCR section 1005 CE requirements.

California Dental Practice Act (DPA) and Ethics: Where's the Line and Why? (2 hours)

This  seminar reviews and updated the required DPA tropics and regulations,  including scope of practice, drug prescribing, licensure and  qualifications, supervision of auxiliaries, professional conduct,  mandating reporting and consent. Codes and Principles of Ethics are  reviewed. Examples of law violations, unprofessional conduct, and  difficult legal challenges will be discussed. 

Learning Outcomes- Upon completion, the participant shall be able to:

*Be familiar with scope of regulations addressed in the DPA

*Relate Dental Codes of Ethics to professional standards and rules.

*Discuss how those regulations define dental practice limits

*Understand how the California Dental Board enforces the DPA

*Learn how to locate information and resources related to the DPA

Bio: Ms. Dewhirst graduated from and was a clinical instructor in Dental  Hygiene at, University of Southern California. She is a member of Sigma  Phi Alpha and is Adjunct Faculty at West Coast University where she has  been course director for Preventive Dentistry, General and Oral  Pathology and Infection Control. She is a nationally recognized speaker,  author and consultant, focusing on infectious diseases and biofilms,  clinical safety, oral pathology, instrument sharpening, ergonomics and  Disaster Preparedness. 

Ms.  Dewhirst presents interactive hands-on workshops, an has lively  seminars that combine science and practical information nation-wide. She  is consistently listed as one of the nation’s “Leaders in CE”, presents  over 80 seminars yearly, is a member of the California Dental  Association Speakers Bureau, and is a licensed continuing education  provider in California. Hosts include major State Dental Conferences,  Dental Universities, and Professional Organizations across the U.S. and  in Canada. 

Ms.  Dewhirst is an ANSI/ADA Standards Program member, an experienced author  of journal articles and has contributed to Textbook chapters, ADA/ANSI  and OSAP position papers and posters, product literature and is  Editor-in-Chief of OSAP’s Infection Control In Practice.

Ms.  Dewhirst graduated from the University of Southern California,  practiced dental hygiene for 20 years, is adjunct dental hygiene faculty  at West Coast University, and is a member of Sigma Phi Alpha. Ms.  Dewhirst is consistently listed as one of the nation’s “Leaders in CE”,  presents over 100 interactive workshops and seminars a year, is featured  at major U.S. and Canadian Dental Conferences, and is a licensed  California CE Provider. She is an ANSI/ADA Standards Program member,  Editor-in-Chief of OSAP’s Infection Control In Practice, has had many  articles published in dental peer-reviewed journals, and has contributed  to dental textbooks and ADA, OSAP, and State and University guidance  documents.

Course Title: 

I Screen, You Screen, We All Screen: No One Has Ever Done That Before!" 

with Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT

4 CEU

Course Description: A perceived lack of risk, a lack of training or confidence, a hurried appointment are three reasons dental professionals report not performing a comprehensive oral cancer screening. This course is a call to action, to calibrate and evaluate the standard of care in oral cancer screening, increase early detection, and reduce liability of the dental professional.

Join Susan Cotten, BS, RDH, OMT, for this engaging course to unpack the latest evidence on oral and oropharyngeal cancer, including current etiologies, emerging risk factors, and the often overlooked signs and symptoms. Using Susan's instructional oral cancer screening videos, case presentations, and step-by step demonstrations, attendees will learn proper palpation through assessment of the thyroid and oropharynx, and tonsil grade recognition and documentation. We will get hands-on with extraoral palpation- an area where many clinicians seek greater confidence. Attendees will leave with screening and documentation tools and an elevated confidence  in a comprehensive  screening. Screening isn't optional, it is an ethical responsibility. 

Objectives: 

1. Name etiologies and risk factors of oral and oropharyngeal cancer, including HPV.

2. Recognize potential signs and symptoms of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

3. Explain the components of a comprehensive visual and tactile extraoral, intraoral evaluation.

4. Demonstrate a comprehensive extraoral evaluation.   

Outline and goals for the course 

1. Opening story

2. Review current statistics or oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

3. Review areas of liability in oral cancer for the dental professional.

4. Discuss etiologies and emerging risk factors for oral cancer.

5. Discuss signs and symptoms of oral, oropharyngeal cancer.

6. Discuss components of a comprehensive visual and tactile, extraoral and intraoral evaluation.

7. Do hands-on work, on a comprehensive visual and tactile extraoral evaluation, with emphasis on proper palpation of lymph nodes, thyroid assessment and oropharyngeal evaluation. 

Goals: The goals align with the objectives. Attendees will gain a knowledge of the etiologies of oral and oropharyngeal cancer, and the emerging risk factors for oral cancers. They will know the signs and symptoms associated with oral and oropharyngeal cancer, and why these are essential part of a comprehensive screening. They will be able to list the components of a  comprehensive visual, tactile, extraoral, intraoral, evaluation, and demonstrate a comprehensive extraoral evaluation. Attendees will also have an understanding of the area of risk for the dental professional in oral cancer and actional steps to aid in reducing the risk of liability.

Bio: Susan Cotten, BS, RDH, OMT is dentistry’s oral cancer coach. As founder and CEO of Oral Cancer Free and Oral Cancer Consulting, she is the creator of The Cotten Method™ - a proven, science-based approach to screening for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. As a speaker and trainer, she works with dental professionals to elevate their confidence in screening, increase early detection, and reduce their risk of liability. Susan leads with experience and passion. With over 60,000 oral cancer screenings performed and numerous community screening events organized, including the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention and Denver Broncos Health and Wellness Expo, she serves as an RDH Advisory Board member for RDH Magazine and the Oral Cancer Foundation, and the past Dental Lead for the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado. Susan is a 2018 Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction recipient, a Colorado Dental Hygienists’ Association recipient of the Ethel Covington and Outstanding Contribution awards. She is an instructor for the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists. On a personal note, Susan loves walking the beaches of Hawaii, watching college football, and is a former country dance competitor.

Sponsors: Elevate ORAL CARE, Pac-Dent, PDS Health, BioGaia, Curadent Curaprox, Crown Seating

Course Title:

A Chairside Workflow for Oral Hygiene Instruction

with Heather Wong, MSDH, RDH

2 CEU

Course Description:

Effective prevention begins where clinical care ends—at home. Gingivitis can develop within just 2–3 weeks without proper homecare, far sooner than most recall intervals. This course emphasizes the critical role of patient collaboration in achieving true preventive outcomes as a priority for health. Dental professionals must go beyond clinical recommendations to understand the psychology of behavior change and how the

brain processes information. Dental professionals have a wealth of knowledge related to behavior change models, but it is often difficult to decide which is the best approach. Behavior is complex and the

many theories and models often have similar concepts, so digesting it into everyday use may seem daunting. By exploring an evidence-based, 7-step protocol, attendees can strategically implement a preventive approach into current workflow during continuing care appointments. We will explore identity, assessment, motivation, training, environment, planning, and evaluation as a comprehensive path to lasting change.

Course Objectives:

During this session, participants will:

*Explain prevention as the pathway to stopping oral disease.

*Understand foundational psychological theories and health behavioral models within dentistry.

*Identify how the patient’s brain processes information during a dental visit.

*Differentiate between goal setting and habit formation.

*Implement the prevention protocol as a pragmatic, evidence-based framework to translate theory into meaningful patient outcomes.

Bio: Heather Wong, RDH, MSDH has been the Professional Relations Manager for TePe Oral Health Care for 6 years. She has over 11 years’ experience working clinically as a hygienist in both periodontal and general practices. Heather has been adjunct faculty at both Pacific University and Pasadena Community College, where she currently serves on the advisory board. She has served and supported the American Dental Hygienists’ Association at both the state and local levels as Treasurer, Trustee, and as a delegate, as well as a member of the CDHA. Heather has presented CE lectures with dental hygiene associations (state and national), Western Society of Periodontology, California Society of Periodontology, ADHA, and many webinars. Her research is focused on homecare and habit formation.

Sponsor: TePe Oral Health Care

Course Titles:

“Are You a Slouch Potato? Elevate Your Ergonomics for Pain-Free Dental Practice.”

"From Cocktails to Cannabis, Pills and Vape: A Dental Dive into Substance Abuse.” 

with Stephanie Botts, BSDH, RDH, CEAS

4 CEU

Course Descriptions & Objectives:

*Ergonomics 

 The dental profession is at high risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), with up to 96% of practitioners reporting pain due to clinical work habits. This is due to repetitive movements, bending, twisting, reaching, incorrect operator and patient positioning, and performing repetitive movements in a static posture.

Ergonomics is the science of fitting the working environment to the practitioner, instead of forcing one's body to acclimate to the environment. Practicing proper ergonomics can increase productivity, decrease pain, and lengthen one's career.  Allowing the individual to practice pain-free, ergonomics can increase the quality of one's life and work satisfaction. At the conclusion of this course, participants will learn ergonomic techniques, stretches and equipment choices to allow them to practice pain-free.

Course objectives:

*Identify unique cumulative stress and musculoskeletal disorders that affect dental professionals 

*Incorporate improved ergonomics and stretches into daily life

*Review patient and operator positioning to improve ergonomics and reduce pain

*Assess ergonomic equipment to maintain proper positioning

*Substance Abuse 

According to recent studies, about 1 in 12 adults in America have an active substance use disorder. In addition, about 30% of adults misuse substances without showing any outward signs of a disorder. Research indicates substances have a detrimental effect on one’s health, including oral health. The dental professional can play a vital role in supporting patients with substance use disorder. Oftentimes dental providers are the health care professionals spending the most one-on-one time with patients. Therefore, they are in a position to screen and advise patients on this issue. With the right skills and confidence, dental professionals can serve as the first line of defense against risky substance use.

After this course attendees will be able to: 

*Understand substance use disorder as a treatable medical condition

*Understand opioid use disorder and alternative therapies to control pain

*Identify how a substance use disorder progresses

*Recognize the physical and psychological changes consistent with substance use disorder

*Communicate effectively with patients and team members about substance use disorder

Bio: Stephanie Botts, RDH, BSDH, CEAS has been a clinical dental hygienist for over 18 years. She is a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist providing both in-office and virtual ergonomics consulting and coaching to dental professionals. She also provides CE to dental and dental hygiene associations on the topic of ergonomics. Her experience as a clinical dental hygienist and ergonomics expert has allowed her to recognize the unique challenges of practicing pain-free in the dental setting. Stephanie believes that by learning effective strategies to optimize proper ergonomics both inside and outside the operatory, dental professionals can practice pain-free and ensure career longevity.

Sponsors: LumaDent, Pac-Dent