Pacific Northwest Dental Hygiene Institute - Course Descriptions

(Maximum participants: 16)

Details of Course Structure

Non-credit Course

• Total clock hours is 50. This equates to three (3) Pierce College quarter credits.
• You will receive a Certificate of Completion once you successfully pass all competency requirements of the course.
• Both the online study and in-class/on-site attendance is required.

Online Study

• Fifteen (15) hours. Must have computer, webcam, microphone and internet access.
• Begins approximately six (6) weeks prior to on-site attendance.

In-class/On-site Attendance

• On-site attendance is at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, WA
• 40 hours over four days. Includes didactic, lab peer clinical experience.
• You must agree to be a human subject to attend this course. If you cannot be a human subject, please contact us prior to applying to discuss potential options.

Costs, Text and Supplies 

• ESTIMATED fee of $3,500 includes supplies, PPE, materials, rental fees, instruments, and liability insurance. This is paid at time of registration. Outstanding costs for missing or damaged equipment/instruments must be paid in full prior to providing testing or licensing documentation. Please see the refund policy located on the Application page.
• Required textbook and DVD are $160 (estimate):
  • Bassett, K., DiMarco, A., & Naughton, D. (2014). Local Anesthesia for Dental Professionals, 2nd Ed. Prentice Hall. ISBN-13: 978-0133077711.
  • Royer & Paarmann. (2012). Techniques for Successful Local Anesthesia DVD. ISBN-13: 978-0132725392
• Students may purchase their textbook through any online source, including Pearson Education, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Barnes & Noble.com.

Lead Course Professor

Kathy B. Bassett, BSDH, RDH, MEd

Email: kbassett@pierce.ctc.edu

Professor Bassett is the lead instructor for the local anesthesia course. She co-authored the local anesthesia textbook, released in its second edition. Her textbook is one recommended by the Western Regional Examining Board as a reference for their exams and is used nationwide by several dental hygiene and dental programs. She also assists in the restorative course.

We encourage you to contact Professor Bassett if you have any specific questions about the course structure or content.

(Maximum participants: 20)

Details of Course Structure

Non-credit Course

• Total clock hours is 15. This equates to one (1.5) Pierce College quarter credits.
• You will receive a Certificate of Completion once you successfully pass all competency requirements of the course.
• Both the online study and in-class/on-site attendance is required.

Online Study

• Five (5) hours. Must have computer and internet access.
• Begins approximately one (1) week prior to on-site attendance.

In-class/On-site Attendance

• On-site attendance is at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, WA
• Eight (8) hours in one day. Includes didactic, lab peer clinical experience.
• You must agree to be a human subject to attend this course. If you cannot be a human subject, please contact us prior to applying to discuss potential options.
• Other healthcare providers may be eligible to take this course. Please contact us to enquire.

Costs, Text and Supplies 

• ESTIMATED fee of $500 includes supplies, PPE, materials, rental fees, instruments, and liability insurance. This is paid at time of registration. Outstanding costs for missing or damaged equipment/instruments must be paid in full prior to providing testing or licensing documentation. Please see the refund policy located on the Application page.
• Required textbook varies based on courses taken.
  • If taking the Local Anesthesia course: Bassett, K., DiMarco, A., & Naughton, D. (2014). Local Anesthesia for Dental Professionals, 2nd Ed. Prentice Hall. ISBN-13: 978-0133077711.
  • If only taking the Nitrous Oxide course: Clark, M. & Brunick, A. Handbook of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen Sedation, 3rd Ed. Mosby. ISBN-13: 9780323048279.
• Students may purchase their textbook through any online source, including Pearson Education, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Barnes & Noble.com.

Lead Course Professor

Keavin McIntosh, DMD

Email: kmcintosh@pierce.ctc.edu

Dr. McIntosh is the lead instructor for the nitrous oxide course and supervising dentist in the local anesthesia and restorative courses. Since 2001, he has also been an assistant adjunct professor in Pierce College's Dental Hygiene program, teaching nitrous oxide and restorative courses, and working as one of the supervising dentists for the dental hygiene clinics.

We encourage you to contact Professor Dr. McIntosh if you have any specific questions about the course structure or content.

(Maximum participants: 10)

Restorative Course Description

Pacific Northwest Dental Hygiene Institute programs are designed to meet the needs of Dental Hygienists pursuing licensure in Washington State that have not previously completed transferable training in Local Anesthesia, Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen Sedation, and/or Restorative Practice for Dental Hygienists. These programs are approved by the Washington State Board of Health, Dental Hygiene Examining Committee (DHEC).

This course in Restorative Practice for Dental Hygienists includes the placement and finishing of both amalgam and composite restorations and a review of restorative dental materials.  It is based on a 110-hour curriculum which includes no less than 20 hours of independent pre-study, followed by 90 hours of onsite instruction, lab practice and at least 16 hours of direct patient restorative care.  Students that complete this course will be eligible to take both the CDCA-WREB-CITA and CRDTS Restorative Examinations, each are accepted for Dental Hygiene licensure in Washington State.

When possible, we may be able to arrange for one of the accepted board examinations on-site the day following the last day of the course.

Course Requirements

To earn the 110-hour course completion certificate, participants must successfully:

• Complete all pre-study assignments and submit homework at an acceptable level.
• Participate in all scheduled hours of onsite instruction, dentoform labs and patient clinic sessions.
• Complete all dentoform lab assignments at “passing” scores to be eligible to participate in the required clinical patient segment of this course.
• Complete pre-clinic dentoform lab assignments at “passing” scores to be eligible to participate in the required clinical patient segment of this course.
• Complete assigned clinical treatment under supervision to clinically acceptable levels.
• Complete a comprehensive written examination with a score 70% or higher.
• Complete a dentoform Mock Board with a “passing” score.

Costs, Text and Supplies 

ESTIMATED fees include instrument issue, course supplies, instrument kit rental fees, PPE, and liability insurance. This is paid at time of registration. Outstanding costs for missing or damaged equipment/instruments must be paid in full prior to release of testing and/or licensing documentation. Please see the refund policy located on the Application page.

• Course, PPE, liability insurance cost: $7000
• Instrument rental cost: $200
  
  • You will be held accountable and charged the current replacement value for any missing or damaged instruments.
• Course supplies and instrument issue cost: $955
• Required textbook: $60
  
  • Bagby, M. & Gladwin, M. (2013). Clinical Aspects of Dental Materials: Theory, Practice, and Cases, 4th Ed. Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott, Williams,
    & Wilkins. ISBN-13: 9781609139650.
  • Students may purchase their textbook through any online source, including Pearson Education, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Barnes & Noble.com.

Institute Coordinator

Kathy B. Bassett, BSDH, RDH, MEd, QOM
Email: kbassett@pierce.ctc.edu

Lab Coats and PPE

• Pierce College furnishes students with lab coats and level 3 surgical masks for typodont lab activities.
• Pierce College will fit-test and supply N95 respirators to the student for use during patient care.
  • However, if the student does not pass a fit test with one of our N95s in stock, the student will not be able to complete the course(s).
  • We highly encourage the student to get fit-test on their own, prior to the course, and bring with them sufficient N95s.
  • Students must arrange to have a minimum of ten FDA approved N95 respirators for use during patient care.
• If a student damages the lab coat, an additional charge will apply to replace the lab coats and collected before the Certificate of Completion and licensing documents are provided.

Safety Glasses and Loupes

• Students must furnish their own appropriate safety glasses based on OSHA guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Magnification support is recommended such as very strong magnifying glasses or loupes.

Clinic Attire

• Students are expected to be clean, and to wear close-toed shoes with non-mesh uppers and non-skid soles.
• Scrubs are acceptable and/or full length pants in a neutral color such as beige, tan, taupe, black, brown, etc. Pants may not touch the ground and must have full coverage (no low-rise pants, cropped, etc.).
• Students must comply with all COVID safety protocols and processes. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the course. Information will be sent to you in the information packet.
• Jeans are acceptable in labs only and may not have any holes or tears in them.
• Additional detailed information will be sent to you in the information packet by July 30.