| The purpose of the study was to determine if there is a difference in educational preparation and practical educational experiences between dental and dental hygiene students in local anesthesia administration and management of local anesthesia-related local and systemic complications in the state of California. A comparative checklist, computer-based survey, and semi-structured interview were data collection procedures used. Results showed the dental school required fewer student-to-student injections types, and had no student-to-patient minimum requirements for graduation. All students are expected to choose the proper local anesthetic type, identify the proper injection type, and manage complications should they occur. Most participants in the semi-structured interviews indicated dental hygiene students had more educational preparation, and believed dental hygienists can administer local anesthesia safely without direct supervision. Dental hygiene students in California programs appear to have an enhanced or comparable education in local anesthesia to the dental students in the program surveyed. |