Deborah L. Cartee, RDH, MS, is a clinical associate professor, Dean’s Faculty at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD). She earned her MS in management (Health Care Administration Track) at the University of Maryland, University College, BS degree in dental hygiene at UMSOD, and AA degree in dental hygiene at Baltimore City Community College. She has extensive clinical experience and has been teaching full-time for the last 29 years.

Ms. Cartee was the course coordinator at the UMSOD for numerous entry-level didactic courses.

Ms. Cartee has also mentored degree-completion students at UMSOD, resulting in publications in the Journal of Dental Hygiene, Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, and Access magazine. Her scholarly effort includes presenting scientific posters at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the American Dental Educators Association (ADEA) annual sessions and has been a Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on numerous grant-supported research projects. She was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Dental Hygiene Program’s junior class in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2018.

She is a current member of the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners. She is a past president and legislative chair of the Maryland Dental Hygienists’ Association (MDHA). As Legislative Chair, she has constructed bills, lobbied, and provided expert testimony leading to the successful passage of legislation changing the dental hygiene scope of practice to include the administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide by dental hygienists in Maryland, and allowing dental hygienists to provide direct access of dental assessments and treatment to special needs patients.

In 2012, she was awarded the MDHA Symbol of Excellence Award.  She is an examiner on the Commission of Dental Competency. Ms. Cartee was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to serve on the Maryland Commission for Women, where she chaired the Achievement and Recognition (ARC) Committee.

Her career goal has been mentoring and empowering students to be independent future leaders in dentistry and healthcare.

The Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners (MSBDE) adopted rules and regulations which allow properly trained registered dental hygienists to monitor and administer local anesthesia, including a mandibular block during dental-related procedures. This course fulfills MSBDE educational requirements for registered dental hygienists.

Through a combination of lectures and hands-on lab work, participants will gain skills in the implementation of local anesthesia.  

Attendees will participate in two days of didactic learning, including hands-on demonstrations, followed by a written examination. On the third day, participants will administer local anesthesia to a lab partner including proficiency testing. Coursework includes readings and a homework assignment. Course participants must pass the written and proficiency clinical examination with a 75 or greater. This course prepares the participant to successfully pass the CDCA written local anesthesia examination for certification by the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Discuss and describe the anatomy and neurophysiology of pain and pain control
• Determine the pharmacology of anesthetic agents and vasoconstrictors
• Recognize medical history status and administration of local anesthesia
• Demonstrate local anesthesia techniques
• Discuss the use of topical anesthetics and demonstrate proper administration
• List steps taken in an emergency
• Utilize proper infection control
• Recognize proper prevention, recognition and management of complications
• Administer local anesthesia in practice
• Be prepared for the Local Anesthesia CDCA prometric exam