Continuing Education or Continuing Headache?

Some states have changed their licensing due dates in order to alleviate the biannual rush for healthcare providers. In addition, continuing education (CE) requirements may have also changed. It is the responsibility of the licensee holder to know, not only the number of CEs required for his or her state, but also the categories in which they must fit.

In my state of Arizona, the current requirements were amended. We are required to fulfill 45 credit hours of recognized continuing dental education in each renewal period.  There are also stipulations on how you receive that information. Was the course taken via self-study, meaning you took it on your own time, over the course of a few days? Maybe you attended a live presentation or attended a “live” webinar in which the course was delivered in real time. Each state has its own definition and acceptance policy,

According to the Arizona Dental Association, the following requirements must be met:

1. At least 25 credit hours must be earned in one or more of the following areas: dental and medical health, dental hygiene services, periodontal disease, care of implants, maintenance of cosmetic restorations and sealants, radiology safety and techniques, managing medical emergencies, pain management, dental recordkeeping, dental public health, and new concepts in dental hygiene.
2. No more than 11 credit hours can be earned in one or more of the following areas: dental hygiene practice organization management, patient management skills, and methods of healthcare delivery.
3. At least three credit hours must be taken in one or more of the following areas: chemical dependency, tobacco cessation, ethics, risk management, or Arizona dental jurisprudence.
4. At least three credit hours must be earned in infectious diseases or infectious disease control.
5. At least three credit hours must be taken on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) healthcare provider level, advanced cardiac life support, and pediatric advanced life support. Coursework may be completed online if the course requires a physical demonstration of skills.

To check the specific requirements for dental hygienists in your state, contact the Board of Dental Examiners, as this is where the state dental practice act is located, outlining all necessary licensure and practice requirements including continuing education needs and scope of practice limitations. Table 1 provides a list of terms to know.

Why Is Continuing Education Necessary?

Many have voiced that they have completed their education to a level where they are prepared and confident to deliver safe and effective dental hygiene treatment. I would challenge that thought simply based on development and innovation of new theories and research.

For those of you who graduated years ago, you will recall that the definitive result of scaling and root planing was “glass-like” root surfaces. Today, we know that we may have over instrumented as evidenced by hour-glass roots.

Staging and grading was another new concept. I recall a much different process when determining a patient’s periodontal condition. While we attempted to be as descriptive as possible, we now have a classification system that is accepted and used most frequently. What about a very recent paradigm shift regarding lead aprons? We now know they do little to reduce patient exposure to ionizing radiation during radiographic imaging.

Without staying abreast of these current changes in our profession, we cannot provide the standard of care that our patients expect and deserve. If we hold our medical professionals to a particular standard, we should do the same.

New graduates and seasoned professionals should be required to take CE courses as evidence that we are current in our knowledge base. This should not be viewed as a perfunctory requirement but rather an opportunity to broaden our scope of understanding.

For those hoping to venture into other aspects of dentistry, CE can be a stepping stone. There is a lot of opportunity to teach medical emergencies in both dental and medical settings. Your advanced skills could be used to lecture at any number of private medical/dental programs. What about earning extra income as a CPR/basic life support instructor? With additional training, you can perfect your skills and, in some cases, even have real life experiences to share with your participants. Have you given any thought to developing a smoking cessation program at the high school level or holding a monthly meeting at a local hospital or library?

The possibilities are abundant and exciting. The good news is that many of these courses are available at little to no cost. The ability to take them on-demand at home is an attractive alternative to the days of having to travel across town to seek out an interesting course.

Set yourself apart from those who limit themselves to basic knowledge and see what opportunities become available based on your expanded literacy and education.