2009 Catalog: All Courses

Assistants will have the opportunity to improve their skills in ultrasonic scaling and hand instrumentation. They will be able to work on patients with state of the art ultrasonic scalers, and significant time will be spent on hand scaling with universal curettes and scalers. Instrument sharpening, irrigation, and local delivery of antimicrobials will also be covered. In addition, we will review charting of Indian Health Service (IHS) and American Dental Association (ADA) periodontal procedure codes.

Students must complete 20 patient cleanings at their home dental clinic, documented on the Follow-Up Training Progress Record, before the Course completion Certificate is provided by the DOH.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Relate Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) scores to a need for potential periodontal treatment.
2. Detect disease, supra and subgingival calculus.
3. Provide thorough ultrasonic scaling of teeth.
4. Use scalers and curettes efficiently and atraumatically.
5. Accurately code for periodontal and hygiene procedures with IHS/ADA coding.
6. Sharpen curets and scalers correctly and efficiently.
7. Recommend effective toothpastes, mouthrinses and oral hygiene aids to patients.
8. Motivate patients to improve plaque removal and periodontal health.
9. Identify who is at risk for periodontal breakdown.

This didactic and clinical course is for GS-4 and above or equivalent dental assistants who have completed the basic clinical periodontics course in the past 5 years or who are currently using ultrasonic scalers on a regular basis.

Please Make Checks Payable to: Indian Health Service

c/o Sandra Ferguson, Crownpoint Health Care Facility

P.O. Box 358

Crownpoint, NM 87313