Nitrous Oxide Sedation Certification Course
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Southern Regional AHEC1601 Owen Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304
Target Audience
Dental Assistants seeking certification in Nitrous Oxide Sedation, Dental Hygienists
Program Description
This seven-hour course provides a comprehensive introduction to pharmacology and the respiratory physiology associated with Nitrous Oxide. Participants will learn to identify the indications, contraindications, and potential complications related to inhalation of analgesia. The curriculum covers the exploration of the Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen delivery system, the different states of anesthesia, and the stages of State 1 Anesthesia. This program is designed to meet the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners educational requirements for dental assistants or dental hygienists to monitor the administration of nitrous oxide.
Registration Fee
$ 300.00 - Registration Fee
$ 250.00 - Group Rate of 3 or more
$ 280.00 - Early Registration 10/16/26
Agenda
8:30 a.m. Check in
9 a.m. Program begins
12 p.m. Break for lunch (provided by SR-AHEC)
1 p.m. Program resumes
4 p.m. Adjourn
Speaker
Roxanne Dsouza-Norwood, EdD, MS, RDH is an associate professor of dental hygiene programs at UNC's Adams School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, NC. Dr. Dsouza-Norwood is the second-year dental hygiene clinical director, the Dental Hygiene Honors Thesis Program departmental liaison, and directs courses in both the graduate and undergraduate dental hygiene programs, including periodontology and research methods. She has experience in clinical research, interprofessional education research, and educational methodology research. She has presented her research nationally and has published several peer-reviewed articles and abstracts in scientific journals. She is an active member in the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, American Dental Education Association, and Sigma Phi Alpha.
Objectives
- Discuss the relationship of the patient’s health to the use of inhalation anesthesia
- Describe the North Carolina educational requirements for the dental assistant and registered dental hygienist administering nitrous oxide oxygen
- Describe the physiological and psychological aspects of pain and anxiety
- Discuss the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
- Discuss the pharmacokinetic properties of nitrous oxide
- Describe the properties, systemic effects, contraindications, advantages and disadvantages of nitrous oxide
- List the steps in nitrous-oxide procedure
- Describe the potential for abuse
Credit
Credit Hours: 7.0 Participants must attend 100% of program time to receive credit.
For more information on North Carolina Dental CE requirements visit the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners (NCSBDE) at: http://www.ncdentalboard.org
The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers are an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. 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 provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.
The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers designates this activity for up to 7.0 hours of continuing education credits.
Disclaimer - Dental Institutions providing dental education have an obligation to disseminate new knowledge related to dental practice. In doing so, some information or presentations may include controversial materials or commercial references. The Southern Regional AHEC office acknowledges that there is potential risk to participants using limited knowledge when incorporating new techniques and procedures into their practices, especially when the continuing education program has not provided them with supervised clinical experience in the techniques or procedures to ensure that they have attained competence. Sponsorship of continuing education courses by the Southern Regional AHEC office does not imply endorsement of a particular philosophy, product or procedure by this institution.
Disclosure - In accordance with the ADA CERP Standard V., everyone involved in planning or presenting this educational activity will be required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests and this information will be made available to participants at the start of the activity. As a continuing education provider, the Southern Regional AHEC office is responsible for ensuring the content, quality and scientific integrity of all continuing dental education activities for which credit is provided. The Southern Regional AHEC office is also responsible for taking steps to protect against and/or disclose any conflict of interest of the faculty/instructors presenting those courses.
Substitutes/Refunds/Transfers
• Cancellations must be in writing (email or mail).
• Registrants cancelling between two weeks and five full business days prior to the first day of the event are refunded at 70% of the registration fee subject to a minimum $25 cancellation fee.
• No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received less than five full business days prior to the event.
• No refunds or credit will be given for no-shows.
• No vouchers will be issued in lieu of a refund.
• Transfers/substitute(s) welcome (notify in advance of the program).
Attendance at this activity grants permission for Southern Regional AHEC to use any photographs, audio, video, or other images from this activity for promotional or educational purposes. Please notify an AHEC staff member if you have concerns.
ADA Services
Americans with Disabilities Act Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the ADA coordinator at least five days prior to the event at (910) 678-7240 or Christi.Boahn@sr-ahec.org.
Contact Us
Althea Bell, BS, Director, IPE Continuing Professional Development / (910) 678-0112 / althea.bell@sr-ahec.org