Local Anesthetics Assessment
Continuing education for dental hygienists (RDHs) ONLY referred to the program by ACDH
CE credits will vary* | $400 or $800 | In-person & online | Limited capacity
* This number is an estimate. Your regulatory body will issue the credits.
Dental hygienists must maintain their currency on administering local anesthetics to keep their restricted activity authorization with their regulatory body. In Alberta, you may require this assessment if it is less than 72 months before application with the regulator, and more than three years have elapsed since you last administered local anesthesia regularly.
Before registering for this, you should confirm with the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists (ACDH) whether your situation qualifies you for this assessment or if they require you to take the full certification course.
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What you'll learn | Pricing and details | Faculty
What you will learn
Take the first step toward reobtaining authorization to administer local anesthetics. Our local anesthetics assessment is an assessment that can be taken as a standalone assessment or combined with a refresher day that will:
- Review head and intraoral anatomy.
- Demonstrate competent injection techniques.
- Understand local anesthetic complications and emergencies.
- Gain confidence in the delivery of local anesthetics.
Participants who pass the exam must apply to ACDH for authorization to administer local anesthetics.
The assessment will touch on pharmacology, medical emergencies, and injection techniques, and incorporate the following injections: IO, PSA, GP, NP, MI, IA/L and LB. Participants can expect to review patient and operator positioning, retraction, landmarking, troubleshooting and building confidence. Through instructor observation, feedback and evaluation, participants will fine-tune their local anesthesia skills and increase their safety, efficacy and confidence for delivery.
Assessment
$400 | In-person | Limited capacity
The assessment is scheduled on a Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., typically held three times a year, if necessary. Please email dentce@ualberta.ca for scheduled dates. If a participant fails, they will be required to contact the ACDH for further recommendations and direction.
assessment + refresher Day
$800 | In-person | Limited capacity
The optional refresher day is offered on the Saturday immediately before the assessment and is available to candidates who would like additional review and guided practice before retaking the assessment. Participation in the refresher day is encouraged but not mandatory.
Pricing and details
Prerequisites
Participants must:
- Be a certified RDH and hold a current registration practice permit.
- Be referred to this course by their regulatory body.
- Hold a current health-care provider CPR certification (certificate is valid for 12 months from the issue date).
- Provide a letter of good standing from their regulatory body (if out-of-province).
- Have been practicing in an oral health office for at least six months.
Refunds
Refunds will be subject to a 20% (of course cost) withdrawal fee for withdrawal before course materials have been accessed. Refunds are not available after course materials have been accessed unless the withdrawal is due to a medical condition.
Course materials
Required Text: Malamed, Stanley F.; Handbook of Local Anesthesia, 7th Ed., St. Louis, Mosby Inc. 2019
Assessment
Missed assessments
Refunds are not available for missed assessments, and missing an assessment results in a fail. The assessment can be challenged again after the $200 fee is paid.
Rewriting the exam
If a participant fails to meet the passing grade or misses the assessment, they can retake it by paying the $200 fee; however, participants are limited to one rewrite that must be completed within three months of the first attempt.
Questions?
Contact us at cdehyg@ualberta.ca
Christie Daye
RDH and Assistant Clinical Professor
Day, DipDH, BScDH, MEd HSE, is an assistant clinical professor in the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry. She is currently appointed as a comprehensive care team dental hygiene lead and has taught in a variety of practice settings including long-term care, and at Radius Health & Healing Dental Clinic.
Additionally, Daye teaches pre-clinical and clinical periodontics for first to fourth-year dentistry students and for continuing dental education in the local anesthetic certification course, dental hygiene refresher, and dental hygiene remedial courses. She began her career working in private practice and expanded her experience in the dental industry as a dental hygiene coach for dental office teams. As a practitioner, Daye committed to professional growth and received advanced training in the restricted activity of prescribing.
Recently, Daye completed a master of education in health sciences education at the University of Alberta. The focus of her capping project was a scoping review of educational interventions used to develop emotional intelligence in undergraduate health professions learners.
Kathy Sauze
Dental Hygienist
Since 2007, Sauze, RDH, MHSE, has been a dedicated clinical instructor at the University of Alberta, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the dental hygiene and continuing education programs. With a master of education in health professions, Sauze has been part of the University of Alberta's continuing education programs, including local anesthesia and dental hygiene programming.
In addition to teaching, Sauze serves as the clinical course coordinator for the third-year dental hygiene program, where they play a pivotal role in shaping the clinical education experience for students. Sauze is also a proud U of A graduate, furthering their commitment to the institution and its educational mission.
As a regulated member and past chair of the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists (ACDH), Sauze has contributed significantly to the profession, ensuring high standards of practice and continuing professional development.
Kimberly Currie
Assistant Clinical Professor
Kim Currie, RDH, BScDH, is a clinical instructor with the local anesthetics for dental hygienists course and facilitates the elements of prescribing course for dental hygienists with continuing dental education.
She graduated from the University of Alberta dental hygiene diploma program in 2000 and with a bachelor of science in dental hygiene degree in 2001. Always looking for ways to expand her knowledge and practice, she completed the elements of prescribing course through the College of Registered Dental Hygienists in 2010.
She works primarily in general private practice. She is also an associate clinical professor in the undergraduate dental hygiene program at the University of Alberta.
Lori Salame
Registered Dental Hygienist
Salame, DipDH, BSc Hyg, graduated from the University of Alberta dental hygiene program in 2006 and is now a part-time clinical instructor in the undergraduate program as well as in the local anesthetic and dental hygiene mentorship program through continuing dental education.
She has practiced in general dentistry and is currently practicing in pediatrics. Her goal is to make students feel empowered and motivated to learn new skills to progress them forward in their careers.
Nadine Rae
Registered Dental Hygienist
Rae, DipDH, BScDH, obtained her diploma in dental hygiene and bachelor of science specialization in dental hygiene from the University of Alberta. She is an assistant clinical professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, currently in the position of comprehensive care dental hygiene lead.
In addition to her work with undergraduate students, Rae acts as the clinical coordinator for the continuing dental education dental hygiene refresher course, and instructs clinically in the local anesthetics course.
Tara Dawson
registered dental hygienist
Tara Dawson, RDH, BScDH, is the lead clinical instructor and facilitates the online theory component for the dental hygiene local anesthetic courses run by the U of A continuing education department (CDE).
She graduated from the U of A in 2001 with distinction with both her diploma and bachelors of science specialization in dental hygiene. With over twenty years of dental hygiene experience in private practice, dental hygiene undergraduate teaching at the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry, and U of A CDE teaching, she has a wealth of knowledge and clinical skill.
Teanne MacCallum
Registered Dental Hygienist
MacCallum DA, RDH, BDH, MAEd, began her dental career as a dental assistant (‘97-‘04). After graduating with her diploma in dental hygiene from Dalhousie University in 2007 she moved to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, where she began her hygiene career.
After spending two years in the Northwest Territories, she returned to Dalhousie University to complete the bachelor of dental hygiene program in 2010. MacCallum taught at Dalhousie University from 2010 - 2019. During that time, she obtained a masters of arts in education from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2017. In 2020, she moved to Red Deer, Alberta, where she continues working in clinical dental hygiene.
As of January 2024, she has been doing locum dental hygiene work in Whitehorse, Yukon, while continuing to work in Red Deer and is a regulated member on the ACDH Council.
Future dates
Are you looking for different course dates? The new course schedules will be available in August.
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