shining smile

Lectures, Seminars + Clinics

Presented by Nancy Andrews RDH,BS
All seminars are appropriate for Doctors, Hygienists, and Assistants.

Presentations are designed specifically for each event, from 2 to 7 hours. Topics may be combined and may be designed with varying amounts of participation..

Workshops:

Infection Control Workshop

(May be presented with John A Molinari, PhD)
Hands-on participation. Slide presentation is optional

A variety of infection control products and approaches are
presented in this lively and interactive hands-on workshop. Basic disease transmission and infection control are explored in light of current documented knowledge while using products as instructional tools – and gifts. Misconceptions and common problems will be discussed, along with potential implications and consequences. The program is intended to help participants get maximum effectiveness from their infection
control efforts. Really use, and really see (with glow-germs and other activities) how different techniques and products work – and go home with a bag of samples and many new ideas!

Learning Objectives


• Review basic tenants of infection control
• Evaluate various hand hygiene products
• Assess personal hand hygiene practices
• Evaluate various surface disinfectant products and protocols
• Apply personal protection concepts and information to selection and use of gloves, masks, eyewear, and gowns
• Consider equipment asepsis products and protocol
• Evaluate instrument management equipment, strategies and protocol

Instrument Sharpening, Never A Dull Moment

3 – 4 hours, slide presentation, hands-on clinic, attendance limited to 30
Bring loupes

This workshop demonstrates how to preserve the original instrument design and shape while creating sharp edges, using a variety of hand and mechanical techniques and devices, loupes and lights. A slide presentation and interactive dialogue lay the groundwork for clinical instruction and participant practice, using hand sharpening techniques and several mechanical instrument sharpeners with magnification. Participants will leave with new instruments and an understanding of the key geometrical relationships between instrument surfaces and edges important for all sharpening techniques.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will:
Learn optimal periodontal instrument designs
Understand how to preserve optimal instrument design while sharpening
Discuss objectives and goals of sharpening
Practice with and compare various hand sharpening techniques
Practice with and compare various mechanical sharpening technology and techniques

CAMBRA: Caries Management By Risk Assessment Workshop
Try Out Fun Ways to Detect Caries Risk!

While most of us have been poking pits with explorers to detect existing caries, applying fluoride and sealants and repeating the mantra: “brush & floss – or lose them!”, Research has changed the world of preventing decay! CAMBRA is based on the medical model for disease management, and gives dentistry a consistent protocol for treating caries as a curable and preventable infectious disease. Rather than waiting for caries to occur, patients can now be evaluated for their risk of developing caries or experiencing loss of dental structure, by using available techniques and products chairside. Definitive results validate treatment and patient management.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will:
Be able to understand and explain the concepts of CAMBRA
Learn how to use evidence-based assessment techniques
Be able to guide the modification of oral flora to favor health
Create a program of patient education and informed participation for their office
Understand, identify and manage remineralization of noncavitated lesions
Consider options for minimal operative intervention of cavitated lesions and defective restorations.

Ergonomics: Stand Up, Sit Down…Right! Right! Right!

2 – 4 hour participation Workshop
Wear comfortable clothes for stretching

Dental practice ergonomic concerns and strategies are discussed. Repetitive motion, awkward positions, and forceful traumatic movements may add up to lost careers. Causes, anatomy and prevention of various cumulative trauma disorders are linked with helpful hints and alternatives, including active participation in stretching and strengthening exercises that can be performed at work. Magnification, illumination and positioning are discussed, as well as health issues that impact susceptibility to ergonomic stresses.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will:
Evaluate various physical signs and symptoms of cumulative trauma disorders commonly found in dental workers
Understand the physiology of representative cumulative trauma disorders
Practice and evaluate stretching and strengthening exercises and strategies intended to reduce risk of work-related injuries
Leave with strategies for personal ergonomic protection

Active Seminars

Annual OSHA Training & Update – Keeping It Real

Slide presentation, participation, documentation

Based on science, but grounded in clinical reality, this course reviews and updates OSHA-required training topics for ordinary and extraordinary situations, including general safety issues such as physical and chemical risks, and infectious disease transmission and control. Patient screening for aerosol transmitted diseases (ATD’s), transmission-based precautions for infectious individuals, and Standard Precautions are presented. A lively mix of activities, demonstrations, stories, prizes, and products keep this class engaging and “real”.

Lesions and Lifestyles - Oral Pathology review and update for Auxiliaries

Slide presentation, participation
Cases are presented and stories are told, as lesions are linked with lifestyles, histories, habits and outcomes. This is an interactive learning and review process to help auxiliaries perfect their methods of identifying and handling oral conditions. Attendees will sharpen their “eagle eye” and perfect their ability to explain record and manage oral pathologies by solving case studies in groups.
Workshop format: Attendees practice using oral diagnostic / assessment technologies to confirm suspected lesion identifications. Groups collaborate to solve cases.

Learning Objectives:
Attendees will review and identify:
Adjectives and Nouns: Descriptive Terms
Soft Tissue Enlargements
Lesions of color
Texture changes
Ulcerations
Special Topics

Lesion detection and assessment using current technologies & Infection Control – Combined Course

Adapted to Meet State Infection Control CE &/or OSHA Training Requirements
Slide presentation, participation, documentation
Designed to meet hosts needs: combine OSHA and IC or separate them in to two sessions.

This combined course covers OSHA-required training topics for ordinary and extraordinary situations. Infection Control is presented from the perspective of both employee and patient protection, based on current CDC Guidelines, State Dental Board regulations for Infection Control and OSHA regulations. Updates include training to screen patients for aerosol transmitted diseases (ATD’s). Clinical risks are discussed in the context of today’s changing pathogens, new settings and technology, and social trends. Enjoy a lively mix of activities, demonstrations, stories, prizes and products.
Learning Objectives:
Using personal and surface barriers, environmental asepsis, instrument sterilization and safe techniques, attendees will understand and have options to manage the following concerns:
Biofilms of interest and concern
Bloodborne diseases
Contact diseases
Airborne diseases
Epidemics
Skin disorders, including allergies
Current, immediate health concerns
Reasonable precaution strategies

Confronting Epidemics & Evolving Pathogens

Slide presentation with some hands-on participation
This seminar explores personal health issues such as new and altered diseases of importance to dental professionals such as biofilm diseases, and very infectious respiratory, skin, droplet or airborne diseases, as well as co-morbidities such as chronic conditions and allergies. These issues are discussed relative to occupational risk, illness prevention, and post exposure responses. Standard and transmission-based precautions along with work restrictions for dental workers are presented, with demonstrations, and activities.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will:
Review well-known infectious diseases
Be able to explain current trends in infectious diseases
Identify emerging disease risks of importance to dentistry
Be informed of key decision criteria needed to prepare for unexpected risks
Apply infection control and safety strategies to usual and unusual disease risks

Are You Disaster-Ready?

(Dentistry’s Role in Preparedness)

3 – 4 Hour Seminar

Let’s kick start your personal and professional readiness! Leave with a “Ready 2 Go!” back pack – and a plan! Participants learn how to use their skills, training and experience to prepare for, assess and respond to disasters. Shelter-in-place or evacuation strategies and scenarios are presented for a variety of situations; including natural disasters such as earthquakes and man-made disasters including accidental or purposeful chemical or radiation exposure, terrorist acts of violence, fire and explosions. Leave with a plan, resources and your own survival back-pack with some essential supplies to get you started!
Learning Objectives:
Recognize types of disasters
Describe appropriate courses of action based on types of disasters
Identify primary and secondary biological / disease threats related to disasters
Learn about options for personal and local planning
Begin the process of preparing a survival pack

Biofilms You Must Meet!

2 – 4 hours, Slide presentation

Microbial biofilms are interesting and important! Understanding
biofilms leads to better management and control of human and
animal diseases. Biofilms are an important source of
contamination in fluids, equipment, and natural or built
environments. This seminar explores methods, strategies and
products to prevent, remove, and manage biofilms in dental
buildings and equipment, and identifies biofilm infections of
dental relevance.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will:
Understand the microbial and physical nature of biofilms
Identify known risks and benefits of biofilms in various settings
Discuss biofilm diseases
Be able to apply strategies to manage dental office reservoirs for biofilms
Find resources and products to continue learning about biofilms