Local-Anesthesia Course Prepares Hygienists for New Responsibility

Pennsylvania College of Technology's School of Health Sciences and Workforce Development & Continuing Education completed the college's first local-anesthesia training program for dental hygienists.

Thirty-one dental hygienists completed the 30-hour training program, Local Anesthetics for the Dental Hygienist, on March 14. The program featured Dr. Sean Boynes, director of anesthesia research in the School of Dental Medicine at University of Pittsburgh.

"This is truly a milestone for the dental hygiene profession in Pennsylvania, the School of Health Sciences and for the dental hygiene program," said Shawn A. Kiser, director of dental hygiene at Penn College. "The local-anesthesia regulations were passed late last year, and local anesthesia was added to the scope of practice for dental hygienists in December."

The four-day course is designed to provide the licensed dental hygienist with the knowledge and skills to safely administer local anesthesia in a clinical setting. The program specifically addressed the requirements set forth by the State Board of Dentistry of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Graduates of the training program are eligible to apply for a dental hygiene local-anesthesia permit through the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry. Additional sessions are scheduled in May and July.

For information on Local Anesthetics for the Dental Hygienist and other noncredit courses offered through Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Penn College, visit on the Web or call 570-327-4775.

To learn more about dental hygiene majors and other academic programs offered by the School of Health Sciences at Penn College, call 570-327-4519 or visit online .

For general information about the college, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.