Local Anesthesia: Truths, Myths and MythBusters!
By: Kathy B. Bassett BSD..., Kathy B. Bassett BSDH, RDH, MEd, FADHA, +1 moreDr. Mel Hawkins, DDS...Dr. Mel Hawkins, DDS, BSCD AN, FADSA, DADBA
Post Date: 10/19/2026
CE Amount: 1.25
Categories: Local Anesthesia
COURSE OVERVIEW
Making informed decisions when managing pain associated with dental procedures requires dental professionals to stay up to date on the science of local anesthesia, investigate new technologies, consider evolving strategies, and periodically challenge their own point of view.
This webinar will assess current postures on articaine use (is it a panacea or problem); status of buffering from the patient perspective and to introduce a new lidocaine formulation designed to improve the injection experience in “real time”.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
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Appreciate the history of articaine use in dentistry over the past 50 years.
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Apply current science to support safe and effective use of articaine in dentistry.
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Implement local anesthetic buffering as a practical, state-of-the-art, experience available to your patients.
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Consider potential advantages of a new lidocaine formulation to improve the injection experience in “real time”.
COURSE SPEAKER
Professor Emeritus Kathy Bassett shares unique insights into successful local anesthesia, informed by the perspectives of both patients and clinicians. She translates current research in pharmacology, anatomy, and pain management into practical techniques clinicians can use immediately. Her expertise is grounded in more than 45 years of experience in general and specialty dental settings as an expanded-functions dental hygienist, as well as her academic roles as Professor Emeritus of Dental Hygiene at Pierce College and Affiliate Professor in the Department of Oral Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. She is a co-author of Local Anesthesia for Dental Professionals and numerous articles and textbook chapters. Kathy has presented hundreds of continuing education courses for dental hygienists and dentists locally, nationally, and internationally. As a lifelong learner, Kathy holds advanced training certificates in orofacial myofunctional therapy, dental sleep medicine for dental hygienists, and the Buteyko breathing method.
Mel Hawkins graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry, with his DDS degree in 1973 and returned for his formal training in dental anesthesiology at the same university from 1975-1976. He is the founding director of the intravenous sedation, continuing education program at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, and was the founding director of the intravenous sedation program at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry. He has over 30 years of private practice experience in Toronto, Canada, with special emphasis on pain control and patient management and various local anesthesia requirements for the dental patient. In addition to lecturing throughout the U.S. and Europe for over 20 years, Dr. Hawkins is board certified as a diplomate of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiologists and is a fellow of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. Dr. Hawkins holds fellowships with the International College of Dentists and with the Pierre Fouchard International Academy. He has served on the continuing education committee for the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. Additionally, Dr. Hawkins is internationally recognized as an author, lecturer, and clinician on topics concerning sedation and pain-free management of the dental patient.
TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is intended for Dental Assistant, Dentist, Hygienist, and Office Manager from novice to advanced.
EDUCATIONAL METHOD
Self Instructional Online CE Course
IMAGE AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT
No images in this presentation have been altered.
SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT
Information shared in this continuing education activity is developed from clinical research and represents the most current information available from evidence-based dentistry.
KNOWN BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS
Information in this continuing education activity is derived from data and information obtained from the reference section.
DISCLOSURE
Dental Learning presentation is made possible through the continued support of Septodont. Kathy B. Bassett, BSDH, RDH, MEd, FADHA and Mel Hawkins, DDS, BSCD AN, FADSA, DADBA are consultant and/or speaker for the following companies and/or organizations: Dental Learning, Septodont. Kathy B. Bassett, BSDH, RDH, MEd, FADHA and Mel Hawkins, DDS, BSCD AN, FADSA, DADBA may receive an honorarium as compensation from the CE Supporter of this presentation and/or from Dental Learning for the time involved in preparing and delivering this online presentation.
Dental Learning is an approved AGD PACE Provider and California State Dental Board Provider of dental continuing education. Dental Learning strives to deliver balanced, objective and clinically relevant information grounded on scientific research. Lecturers who are invited to deliver Dental Learning CE webinars are advised to substantiate their claims with research-supported data and to disclose all commitments to, or relationships with, any commercial entity within the dental industry. In many cases, lecturers are sponsored by a dental manufacturing company, which provides them with support in the form of honorarium and/or dental products and equipment in order to help with clinical presentations. Prior to each live CE webinar, lecturers are made aware of the importance of delivering their presentations without commercial bias, and where appropriate, to mention a variety of different product choices that may be relevant to the subject matter of the lecture, for the educational benefit of the participant.
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