Course Library

HIPAA Basics for Dental Practices

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is a federal law enacted in 1996. The HIPAA law has established rules for sharing individual medical and dental information and protecting this information from any unauthorized use. The main goals of HIPAA are to improve efficiency within healthcare as well as to improve the manageability of health and dental insurance. Additionally, HIPAA aims to protect patient privacy and ensure health and dental information is safeguarded from unauthorized use.

This course reviews HIPAA compliance and how individual rights are protected under the law. Key elements of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA Security Rule, and HIPAA Enforcement Rule will be identified, and best practices will be discussed.

Nitrous Oxide in the Dental Practice

Nitrous oxide sedation is used successfully in dental offices across the nation to assist in the management of pain and anxiety. During this course, we will discuss the basic principles of use and safety of Nitrous Oxide, contraindications that should be taken into consideration with specific patients and health issues, and work control practices to insure the safety of the staff and the patient. Nitrous Oxide can be a great benefit to the patient or a significant liability to the dental practice if the routine procedures are not balanced with an acute awareness of the effect it can have on certain patients. Topics covered will also include the biological effects of nitrous oxide and information regarding the regulation of nitrous oxide in clinical practice.

Ergonomics and Injury Prevention for Dental Practices

Many jobs in the healthcare and dental environments require standing on your feet for long periods or lifting heavy objects. These and similar activities can lead to discomfort or injuries if ergonomic precautions are not taken seriously. It is the intent of OSHA for employers to identify and implement appropriate equipment and procedures to reduce or eliminate ergonomic hazards. Training employees is a fundamental part of the ergonomic process. This course explains basic concepts for the musculoskeletal system and associated disorders that can occur in the workplace such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. It also provides detailed information on preventative measures to help employees avoid musculoskeletal injuries.

Dental Practice Act of California

The Dental Practice Act of California will review information on the dental board and their duties which includes the regulation of dentists and dental auxiliaries. Additionally, we will be identifying the scope of practice for dentists and auxiliaries, and examining the laws governing conscious sedation, writing prescriptions, violations and disciplinary action, license renewal and lastly, a mandatory reporter status. The Dental Board of Californias mission is to protect and promote the health and safety of consumers of the State of California.

Providing Oral Care for the Care Provider

This course will discuss proper techniques for providing oral care to a conscious person as well as an unconscious person and the proper procedure for cleaning dentures. Course expiration date: 11/1/2025

Basics of Medication Administration

This course will discuss patient assessment and vital signs and review the rights and checks of medication administration. We will examine pill forms, including how to identify pills that cannot be crushed. We will explain non-injectable liquid forms of medications, including those administered by an oral syringe or dropper, suppositories, and topical medicines applied to the skin. We will also discuss best practices for documenting medication administration. Course expiration date: 12/27/2025

Dental Workers: Returning to Work After a Pandemic

Dentistry has always been at the forefront of infection control, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made the profession inherently more dangerous. Dental practices have been forced to limit the care they provide, which has caused a negative economic impact that ultimately affects the future of the industry itself. This course covers the impact of COVID-19, the risks dental workers face when treating potentially infected patients, and how to return to normal in the safest way possible as dental practices receive the ok to resume normal operations.

The Importance of Oral Health

This course explores oral health and the effects oral health has on overall health, the prevalence of oral diseases and the conditions linked to oral health, and evidence-based guidelines to promote oral health. Oral health touches every part of our lives but is often taken for granted. Your mouth is a gateway into your body’s overall health; it will tell you when there is an infection or when your body lacks nutrition. Course expiration date: 6/30/2025

Alternative Methods for Patient Care During a Pandemic

The most common modes of transmission for infectious pathogens are from the infected person to others through coughing, sneezing, touching, and surfaces touched by the infected person. One way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to prevent people with suspected signs and symptoms of COVID-19 from coming into a healthcare facility for diagnosis and treatment.

This course will briefly cover lessons learned from historic responses to outbreaks and practical strategies for managing COVID-19 with alternative methods of care and potential liabilities. The course will focus on the CMS’s broadened access to Medicare telehealth services, including temporary and emergency benefits under the 1135 waiver authority and Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. Course expiration date: 3/30/2025