2026 Catalog: All Courses

This course will cover specific challenges of dentistry in Alaska with topics on oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, cusp protected restorations, molar substitution, serial extractions, dental public health, opioid misuse and pain management. The course will have both lecture and hands on training components.



Presentation Overviews and Objectives
Title: DHAT Supervisor Training
Instructor: Dr. Sarah Shoffstall-Cone
Course Overview:
Training for dentists who will be supervising Dental Health Aide Therapists. Goes over how DHATs are trained in the Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program and the philosophies of treatment and diagnosing they are trained in. Education on certification requirements of DHATs and their preceptorship.
Objectives:
1.   Share the history of the Alaska Community Health Aide Program.
2.   Explain the education, scope of practice and supervision of Dental Health Aides.
3.   Review the curriculum and educational requirements for the Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program.
4.   Explain and show resources for the preceptorship, certification and recertification of Dental Health Aides.
Title: Recognition and Stabilization of Common Medical Emergencies in the Dental Chair
Instructor: Susan Romero
Course Overview:
Recognition and stabilization of common adult and pediatric medical emergencies in the dental clinic setting utilizing Crisis Resource Management Principles [CRM].
Objectives:
1. Demonstration of the ABCDEFG Assessment checklist to assess, recognize, and stabilize common medical emergencies in both Pediatric and Adult Medical Emergencies
2. Evaluation of altered mental status and common causes: Vasovagal syncope, Hypoglycemia,
Seizures.
3. Identification and treatment of the most common medical emergencies in dental offices
Title: Alaska’s Workforce and Public Health Dentistry
Instructor: Dr. Sarah Shoffstall-Cone
Course Overview:
Orientation to a Dental Health Aid Therapist and how they are trained. Alaska public health dentistry update and discussion.
Objectives:
1.   Participant will gain an understanding of the general principles of public health as they pertain to dental practice in the Alaska Tribal Health System.
2.   Participants will learn the 4 types of dental health aides and how they are regulated.
3.   Participants will learn the minimum requirements for DHA supervision and where to find the federal regulations which define how DHA supervision must be carried out.
Title: Crowns versus cusp protected restorations
Instructor: Dr. Bridget DeYoung
Course description:
This presentation will describe the indications for cusp protected restorations on endodontically treated posterior teeth and cracked or structurally compromised teeth. The advantages and disadvantages to using a cusp protected restoration versus a crown will be discussed as well as material selection and preparation design. Updated literature regarding this topic will be reviewed. A hands-on portion in a simulation lab will focus on preparation design and restoration techniques.

Course objectives:
1. Describe the indications for a cusp protected restoration versus a full coverage crown.
2. Discuss material selection and preparation design for cusp protected restoration.
3. Review current and classic literature regarding cusp protected restorations.

Title: Oral Surgery Topics
Instructor: Dr. Sarah Satow
Course Overview:
This course will cover what to do when evaluating a patient who may need to be referred to the Oral Surgeon. It will focus on mandible fractures, infections, and common pathology.
Objectives:
1.   Be able to identify subjective and objective characteristics of mandible fractures, deep space infections, and pathology that may require oral surgery intervention.
2.   Be able to stabilize or optimize a patient with a mandible fracture, deep space infection, or invasive pathology in a timely manner.
3.   Apply and remove arch bars.

Title: Acute Conditions of the Periodontium, Suturing and Flap Design
Instructor: Dr. Nhi Huynh
Course Overview:
To discuss the basics of periodontology, discuss surgical flap design, and discuss basic suturing.
Objectives:
1.   Acute conditions of the periodontium
2.   Understanding surgical flap design
3.   Understand basic suturing techniques
Title: Tips and Tricks to Being a Conservative Restorative Dentist
Instructor: Dr. Max Klingenstein
Course Description:
The goal of this presentation is to provide helpful clinical information to general dentists on public health treatment planning philosophies and conservative, minimally invasive dentistry.
Objectives:
1.   Be able to identify the differences between a Private Practice and Public Health approach to dentistry.
2.   Be able to recognize situations where conservative treatment alternatives and minimally invasive dentistry may be indicated.
3.   How to effectively communicate with patients using motivational interviewing to set realistic expectations and increase trust
Title: Pediatric Dentistry and Challenges in Alaska
Instructors: Dr. Kim Hort
Course Overview: This course will review pediatric dentistry, stainless steel crown placement, primary pulp therapy, behavior management with children and managing high caries in children.
1.   Participants will gain confidence in treatment planning for pediatric patients
2.   Participants will learn indications and techniques for pulpal therapy in primary teeth and practice pulpotomy and SSC restorations
3.   Participants will be able to recognize eruption difference and make appropriate referrals
Title: Serial Extractions and Molar Substitution
Instructor: Dr. Dane Lenaker
Course Overview: This course will cover when the ideal time and circumstances are for serial extractions for space issues and orthodontics. It will also cover molar substitution extraction considerations and indications.
Objectives:
1.   Understand Predictors of Space Closure after Extractions of First Molars
2.   Understand the difference between compensated and uncompensated extractions
3.   Understand timing and other important considerations for serial extractions in rural Alaska

Title: Orofacial Pain Management & Opioid Misuse & Addiction
Instructor: Dr. Nhi Huynh
Course Overview:
This course is designed to help dental providers understand their role in fighting the opioid epidemic in the United States. Best practices for pain management techniques will be discussed to help eliminate or greatly decrease the need for opioid prescriptions.
Objectives:
1.   Identify how dentists may be contributing to the opioid epidemic
2.   Identify the psychological and physiological factors of opioid misuse and addiction
3.   Identify non-opioid methods of managing orofacial pain

1.   Share the history of the Alaska Community Health Aide Program.
2.   Explain the education, scope of practice and supervision of Dental Health Aides.
3.   Review the curriculum and educational requirements for the Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program.
4.   Explain and show resources for the preceptorship, certification and recertification of Dental Health Aides.

Sarah Shoffstall-Cone — Personal Description / Biography not available. For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at sshoffstallcone@anthc.org.

Dane Lenaker — Orthodontics For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at danel@searhc.org.

KIM HORT — For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at kim.hort@searhc.org.

Sarah Satow — For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at ssatow@scf.cc.

Nhi Huynh — Personal Description / Biography not available. For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at nthuynh@anthc.org.

Bridget DeYoung — For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at bridgetwillet@gmail.com.

Max Klingenstein — For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at Max.Klingenstein@ihs.gov.

Susanna Romero — For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at sromero@anthc.org.

The speaker has no conflicts of interest to report.

It is the policy of the Indian Health Service, Division of Oral Health, that faculty/planners disclose any financial or other relationships with commercial companies whose products may be discussed in the educational activity. The Indian Health Service, Division of Oral Health, also requires that faculty disclose any unlabeled or investigative use of pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Images that have been falsified or manipulated to misrepresent treatment outcomes are prohibited.

None of the faculty/planners for this activity has a conflict of interest, and there is no use of unlabeled or investigative pharmaceutical products or medical devices. No images have been falsified or manipulated to misrepresent treatment outcomes.The educational objectives, content, and selection of educational methods and instructors are conducted independent of any commercial entity.

The IHS Division of Oral Health is an accredited sponsor of continuing education under the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP). ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the IHS at IHS CDE Coordinator or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ada.org

Please Make Checks Payable to: Indian Health Service.

Tuition must be paid in full 8 weeks prior to the start date of any course. Request for refunds must be received in writing at least two weeks before the course begins. For each refund request, there will be an administrative charge of $100. No refunds will be made to registrants who fail to attend a course. If IHS CDE program cancels a course, then 100% of the tuition will be refunded.