Dental Public Health Certificate

The Allied Dental Education Department at NHTI, Concord's Community College, in collaboration with the N.H. Division of Public Health Services Oral Health Program, announces a continuing education certificate for dental professionals working in dental public health settings. Completion of prescribed courses will ensure that hygienists seeking collaborative agreements with supervising dentists have the latest information vital to their programs. Certificate courses will provide standardized protocols and quality assurance for public health dental practice.

Mission: Provide educational and training experiences to dental professionals working in public health settings and school-based programs in the delivery of oral health services by emphasizing:

Adherence to the American Dental Hygienists Code of Ethics and the State of New Hampshire Dental Practice Act
Use of critical thinking skills and effective problem solving
The value of respectful communication
Ongoing professional development

Goal: Continually update participants in the most current information to optimally deliver dental hygiene services in alternative dental settings.

Certificate: (Courses are open to all dental professionals)

Core Courses:

Sealant Consideration in the Public Health Setting

Evidence-Based Dentistry for the Dental Professional

Infection Control in Alternative Dental Settings

Management of Medical Records

Medical Emergency Management in the Alternative Dental Setting

Evaluation of Clinical Techniques

Elective Courses: (select one)

Managing the Special Needs Patient

Working with Residents in Long Term Care Facilities

Courses will be scheduled on a rotating basis and can be taken in any order. Continuing education credits will be awarded per course completion to hygienists, dental assistants and dentists. Certificate of Satisfactory Completion will be granted upon completion of all core courses and one elective.

Spring 2012 Course Offerings

Individual DPHC courses open to all dental professionals.
Space is limited - register early!

Bridging the Gap: Tips for Treating a Patient with Autism
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that 1 in every 110 children today is born with some form of Autism, a disease that affects an individual's ability to communicate, socialize, and in some cases function independently on a day-to-day basis. Practitioners are finding patients who are challenged with these diseases in their practice on a more routine basis than ever before. The need to better understand these patients and their unique abilities and gifts has never been greater.

Karen Raposa, BSDH, MBA, national speaker on autism, provides a review of the patient with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the reasons why practitioners, from a legal and professional aspect, need to better understand these unique patients. A review of how to properly assess the patient's abilities will be conducted. Techniques for treatment and a review of technology and creativity that might be used will be explored. A comprehensive documented home care regimen that should be provided to caretakers will be discussed. Guidelines will be presented for practitioners on how to easily incorporate these special patients into their practice and make their career more rewarding than they ever imagined it could be.

Date: Saturday, April 21, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Price: $79
CEUs: 3
Instructor: Karen Raposa, BSDH, MBA, Clinical Education Manager, Hu-Friedy Manufacturing Company, LLC

Medical Records Management ^OL
Topics discussed will assist the dental professional working in alternative settings to understand and comply with legal requirements to properly handle patient medical records. Both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) will be discussed. Participants are required to review online lecture and complete learning activities prior to course date.

Date: Online portion - April 7 through April 21/Class meeting - Saturday, April 21, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Price: $85
CEUs: 4
Instructor: Connie George, RDH, M.Ed.

^OL - Courses marked with this symbol will have an on-line component. Students are required to have an email address, internet access and possess basic computer skills.

Registration Information