Local anesthesia remains one of the most important advances in the history of dentistry, yet clinicians continue to face challenges related to injection discomfort, bitter taste, delayed onset, inadequate anesthesia, lingering numbness, and patient anxiety. This CE webinar will review the fascinating evolution of local anesthetic agents from the earliest use of cocaine to the introduction of lidocaine and today's expanding armamentarium of anesthetic solutions. Participants will explore the pharmacology, safety profiles, and clinical applications of commonly used local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors, while examining evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes. Special emphasis will be placed on innovations such as anesthetic buffering, flavor-masked formulations, and practical approaches to enhancing the overall patient experience. (read more)

Periodontal disease is no longer understood as a condition driven by biofilm alone. Emerging evidence continues to highlight the role of airway dysfunction, altered breathing patterns, and chronic inflammation as contributing risk factors to periodontal breakdown. This two-part CE webinar series explores the airway-inflammation-periodontal connection through a prevention-focused, hygiene-centered lens. Participants will learn how mouth breathing and sleep-disordered breathing influence the oral microbiome, salivary function, and inflammatory burden, and how these changes present clinically during routine hygiene visits. Dental hygienists will gain practical tools for recognizing airway-related red flags, implementing simple screening strategies within their scope, communicating findings confidently with patients, and integrating prevention-based periodontal care models that support long-term stability. (read more)

We are all familiar with fluoride varnish but in today's environment of fluoride hesitancy, misinformation, and marketing noise, it's easy to lose sight of the science that makes it so effective. To continue delivering the highest standard of preventive care, clinicians need a clear understanding of what actually happens after varnish is applied and why those mechanisms matter clinically. This CE webinar takes a closer look at the science behind fluoride varnish, including fluoride uptake, fluorapatite formation, and the role prolonged contact time plays in long-term enamel protection. We'll also explore how varnish formulations behave on the tooth surface and what clinicians should consider when selecting a varnish for their patients. (read more)