Nitrous Oxide Monitoring for South Dakotas Assistants & Hygienists

This Light Sedation online course qualifies for South Dakota’s nitrous oxide administration requirements*. It provides 15 hours of CE credit that is issued upon successful completion of the didactic portion with a minimum exam score of 75% and completion of the live patient form.

DOCS has provided Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen training to thousands of dentists and staff since 1999 and is proud to offer specialized nitrous oxide and oxygen sedation training for South Dakota dental hygienists and assistants. 

Presented by DOCS Education with Dr. Anthony Feck, Dr. Carol Wilson, and others, this comprehensive light sedation program will teach hygienists the techniques of N₂O administration and monitoring, enabling them to maximize patient comfort and increase the practice’s productivity.  

You will learn the fundamentals of providing safe and comfortable dental care using a combination of light oral sedation protocols.  

Course Objectives: 

• Follow the ADA-recommended guidelines for minimal sedation. 
• Understand the proven and safe light sedation protocols. 
• Learn the science of nitrous oxide and other inhalation anesthetics. 
• Review hands-on techniques of N₂O administration, both fundamental and advanced. 
• Cover guidelines for patient monitoring and special equipment. 
• Understand airway management, including signs of an impending emergency. 
• Review prescribing, dispensing, and dosing oral sedatives, and related regulatory issues. 
• Learn to combine enteral/inhalation sedation. 
• Minimize nitrous exposure and biohazards for patients and staff. 
• Discuss proper sedation candidate selection.  

Including your team in the training of nitrous oxide and light sedation is an investment in the healthy longevity of your sedation practice.

Three-Step Process:

Part 1

Dental hygienists and assistants will complete 15 hours of online didactic training through DOCS Education, on their own schedule, at their home or office. Students must pass the final quiz with a 75% or greater grade.

Part 2

Once students have completed and passed the didactic requirements, they must administer nitrous oxide to three (3) patients in a clinical setting under observation by a South Dakota-licensed dentist.

The South Dakota dentist you choose (generally the employer dentist) will document competency and completion on a form provided by DOCS, and the signed affidavit will be proof of completion.

Part 3

Once both the didactic and live patient portion of the course is completed, CE will be provided. Send the documents to [email protected] to request a certificate of completion. The dental hygienist can then apply for the permit to legally administer N₂O and oxygen under direct dentist supervision.

*S.D. Admin. R. 20:43:09:06.

The State Board of Dentistry may issue a permit to a dental hygienist or a registered dental assistant to administer nitrous oxide sedation and analgesia to dental patients on an outpatient basis under the supervision of a dentist if the dental hygienist or registered dental assistant has successfully completed educational course that substantially meets the objectives and content as described in Part 4 of the Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students. Course must be completed within 13 months prior to application submission.

All sales are final. 

Purchase of this course grants access for one year and requires an internet connection, computer with video and audio capabilities, and in some cases, Adobe Reader to view handouts and articles.  
 
You can download this course and watch it anywhere using the DOCS APP. Get it on Google Play or the Apple Store. 
 
Watch the video, complete the quiz, and complete the live patient document to earn 15 CE credits.
 
Scientific support and additional resources are available here.