Laser Education for the Dental Hygienist
Lecture and hands-on
Next course: TBA
This course will provide an overview of laser principles, application, and safety through didactic and hands-on practice. Participants will have the opportunity to work with a variety of diode lasers, specific to dental hygiene application, on pig jaws and simulation. At the conclusion of this course, hygienists will have the confidence and knowledge to apply laser use in the private practice setting. In order to provide personalized instruction in hands-on portion, class size is limited to 20.
The course is 2.5 hours didactic with a 20 question quiz, followed by 2 hours of hands on instruction using manikins, a pig jaw, and a variety of diode lasers.
This activity is approved for 5 CEUs.
Course objectives
Participants will:
- Explain basic laser principles
- Appreciate laser history and their use in dentistry
- Master laser safety concepts and practices
- Demonstrate diode soft tissue laser applications
- Develop expertise in treatment planning and practice implementation
- Apply diode laser principles in hands-on setting
Jennifer A. Boyce, DMD
Associate Director of Clinical Affairs
Fones School of Dental Hygiene
University of Bridgeport
Jennifer A. Boyce, DMD earned her doctorate at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine In 1990. Dr. Boyce completed the general practice residency program at Danbury Hospital and remained on staff as attending until 1997. Dr. Boyce was a solo practice owner from 1993 until 2018. After joining the faculty of Fones School of Dental Hygiene in an adjunct role, Dr. Boyce transitioned to Dental Administrator in 2020, then to Associate Director of Clinical Affairs in 2021.
Dr. Boyce earned laser certification in 2018 and contributed to the introduction and development of laser education in the undergraduate curriculum at Fones as well as post graduate continuing education for the dental hygienist in private practice.