Patients expect pain-free dental treatment, and local anesthesia remains the foundation of effective pain control. While local anesthetics are among the safest and most reliable drugs for preventing and managing pain, achieving profound anesthesia, especially in pulpally involved teeth, can be challenging. This course presents a protocol to make injections more comfortable, effective and safe using the new ABCs of dental pain control that include Articaine, buffering and cold testing to ensure pulpal anesthesia.

The traditional mandibular nerve block has one of the lowest success rates of major nerve blocks administered in the human body. Is it even necessary to continue to administer this technique? Many alternative approaches have been developed to improve success. This course will examine these alternative techniques and their respective success rates. In addition, it will discuss the efficacy of Articaine HCl with mandibular infiltration and the consideration for buffering to enhance depth of anesthesia and efficiency of onset.  

Medical emergencies occur every two to four years on average in dentistry. This course covers essential steps for preparing the dental team to promptly recognize and manage potentially life-threatening situations during the critical 10 minutes before emergency medical services arrive. The session covers prevention, recognition and management of common medical emergencies, including syncope or fainting, seizures, respiratory distress such as asthma, and allergic reactions, ensuring dental teams are ready to respond effectively.

Medical emergencies can and do occur in a dental practice, with cardiovascular events such as angina, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac arrest becoming more common as populations age. This program prepares dental teams to recognize and manage these cardiac emergencies effectively. The importance and proper use of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, will be emphasized. Dental professionals are encouraged to attend as a team as the life you save may be your own.

Effective management of fear and pain is essential in pediatric dentistry. This program reviews sedation and local anesthesia techniques for children under 13. The session covers oral, inhalation, or N2O–O2, and parenteral routes of administration, including drug selection, onset, duration and safety. Participants will also explore local anesthetic delivery methods, recognize potential complications and learn strategies for managing CNS depressant and anesthetic overdoses, enhancing safety, comfort and confidence when treating younger patients.