2026 Catalog: All Courses

This is based upon the tip of the week e-mail sent out by DOH the week of February 10th, 2026. To gain CDE credit, participants must successfully pass a test [score 80] based upon the reading material.

Reading Materials:
How Should We Monitor Our Nitrous Oxide?
Here are some helpful links regarding Nitrous Oxide

Oral Health Program Guide: Nitrous Oxide Safety

NIOSH: Control of Nitrous Oxide in Dental Operatories

ADA: Nitrous Oxide

NIOSH:
NIOSH Technical Data Sheet
Step by Step Approach for Controlling N2O
Step by Step Approach for Controlling N2O
Step   Procedure   Control
1   Visually inspect all N2O equipment [reservoir bag, hoses, mask, connectors] for worn parts, cracks, holes, or tears.   Replace defective equipment and/or parts.
2   Turn on the N2O tank and check all high to low pressure connections for leaks. Use a non-oil-based soap worn solution to check for bubbles at high pressure connectors, or use a portable infrared gas analyzer.   Determine leak source and fix. If tank valve leaks, replace tank; if O-rings, gaskets, valves, hoses, or fittings, replace. Contact the manufacturer for parts tact the manufacturer for parts replacement. For threaded pipe fittings, use Teflon tape. Do not use this tape on compression fittings.
3   Select scavenging system and mask. Mask should come in various sizes to patients. Scavenging systems should operate at air flow rate of 45 lpm.   Provide a range of mask sizes for patients. Check to see that noise levels at the mask are acceptable when the scavenging system exhaust rate is operated at 45 lpm.
4   Connect mask to hose and turn on vacuum pump before turning on N2O. Scavenging system vacuum pump must have capacity to scavenge 45 lpm per dental operation.   Determine proper vacuum pump size for maintaining 45 lpm flowrates, especially when interconnected with other dental scavenging systems. If undersized, replace pump.
5   Place mask on patient and assure a good, comfortable fit. Make sure reservoir bag is not over or under inflated while the patient is breathing.   Secure mask with “slip” ring Secure mask with “slip” ring for “good activity” from patient breathing.
6   Check general ventilation for good room air mixing. Exhaust vents should not be close to air supply vents [use smoke tubes to observe air movement in room.]   If smoke from smoke tubes indicate room air mixing is poor, then increase the airflow or redesign. If exhaust vents are close to air supply vents, relocate [check with ventilation engineers to make adjustments].
7   Conduct personal sampling of dentist and dental assistant for N2O exposure. Use diffusive sampler or infrared gas analyzer [see sampling methods].   If personal exposures exceed 150 ppm during administration, improve mask fit and make sure it is secure over the patient’s nose. Minimize patient talking while N2O is administered.
8   Repeat procedure in step 7.   If personal exposures are less than 150 ppm but greater than 25 ppm, implement auxiliary exhaust ventilation near the patient’s mouth. Capture distance should no greater than 10 inches from the patient’s nose and mouth area and exhaust no less than 250 cfm at the hood opening. Avoid getting between the auxiliary exhaust hood and patient’s mouth and nose area.


https://www.ihs.gov/doh/clinicmanagement/ohpgpdf/Chapter206/12IHS-OPHS790-DEN_HNB_Chapter6_SectionD.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/hazardcontrol/hc3.html

https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/nitrous-oxide

Upon reviewing the NIPCS Tip of the week, you will:
1. Understand the importance of monitoring your nitrous oxide
2. Know the proper maintenance for a nitrous oxide system
3. Understand key considerations for reducing exposure to nitrous oxide.

Damon Pope — Deputy Project Manager for the IHS Electronic Dental Record IHS DOH National Infection Control Consultant For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at damon.pope@ihs.gov.

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

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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.