Essentials Dental Hygiene Refresher Course
A focused one-day skills refresh for licensed hygienists in a small group in Williamsburg, VA
1 day hands-on + 11 hours online · 19 CE hours · $1,495
Is the Essentials Dental Hygiene Refresher Right For You?
Essentials is a good fit if you:
Hold an active license and want a focused, one-day refresh of your hands-on skills
Want to brush up on instrumentation, ultrasonics, radiography and vital signs in a small group
Want the full online core, including Medical Emergencies with its own certificate
Don’t need ADEX exam prep or a second clinical day
Want the most affordable way to get back in front of an instructor
Returning to practice in a state with specific refresher requirements? Check with your state board first. Private 1:1 can be designed around what your board asks for.
What’s Included
Every course is built on today’s standard of care
Online Core: 11 hours, self-paced
Infection Control and OSHA (2 hrs)
Pharmacology Refresher (1 hr)
The Anxious Patient on Meds: SSRIs/SNRIs, Bruxism, Bleeding and Epinephrine (1 hr)
Medical Emergencies (3 hrs)
Perio Staging, Grading and Protocols (2 hrs)
Documentation, Ethics and HIPAA (1 hr)
Ergonomic Ultrasonic Scaling (1 hr)
Clinical Day: 8 hours, in person
Private skills assessment
Radiography: sensor placement, technique, and image quality
Manual instrumentation
Ultrasonic instrumentation
Sharpening and instrument care
Ergonomics and positioning
Probing and charting
Electronic health records
CDT Coding
Private debrief with a written plan for your next steps
How it Works
Take the 2-minute intake. Answer a few questions so we can confirm Essentials is the right fit for your goals.
Enroll and choose your date. Pay at checkout by card, or choose a payment plan through Klarna or Afterpay to spread out the cost.
Complete the online core. Work through the 11 hours at your own pace, and finish at least one week before your clinical day.
Spend your clinical day in Williamsburg. Practice hands-on with direct feedback, then leave with a written plan for your next steps and your CE certificates.
Want More Time in the Clinical Practice?
Clinical Cohort, $2,695: Adds a second full clinical day and lets you choose your track: ADEX exam prep or clinical confidence. Small group of up to 6, 27 CE hours.
Private 1:1, from $3,495: Two days of one-on-one instruction on your dates, with a program designed around your skills and goals. 27 to 45 CE hours.
Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH
Meet Your Mentor
30 years of clinical expertise, academic leadership, and a proven track record of transforming dental professionals.
What Sets Dr. Tanner Apart
When you enroll, you’re getting more than a course. You’re getting mentorship from someone who has shaped dental hygiene education nationally and led clinical programs at the highest levels.
Proven Academic Leadership
Dr. Tanner has served as Program Director, Clinical Coordinator, and faculty member at multiple accredited institutions, and is currently a contributing faculty member at Creighton University School of Dentistry. She has helped launch and lead dental hygiene programs, trained faculty, and overseen clinical curriculum.
Clinical Expertise with Real-World Perspective
With 30 years in practice, she understands the day-to-day challenges hygienists face and how to elevate your skills in ways that feel doable and effective.
Trusted Industry Consultant
Collaborates with top companies to deliver training on the most current techniques, tools, and technologies in dentistry.
Published Thought Leader
Lead contributor for DrBicuspid and author in Teledentistry and Peak Performance, shaping national conversations around dental hygiene and professional growth.
Award-Winning Educator
Honored with numerous accolades, including the ADHA & Johnson & Johnson Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene, the Denobi Award, and recognition by Dentistry Today as a Top Dental Consultant for 6 years in a row.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It depends on your state. Every state board sets its own rules for returning to practice, and they change. Next Level Dental Hygiene courses are clinical skills training and CE. They are not delivered through a CODA-accredited program, so in states that require one for reinstatement, Virginia among them, they will not satisfy that requirement on their own. Before you enroll, call your state dental board and ask exactly what they accept. If you’re not sure what to ask, take the intake and we’ll help you figure out your next step.
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All in-person training takes place in Williamsburg, Virginia. You’ll get the full address and arrival details when you enroll. The online courses are self-paced, so you can complete them from anywhere before your clinical days.
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Yes. Next Level Dental Hygiene is AGD PACE-approved, and most state boards accept AGD PACE credit. Whether your hours count is up to your state board, so it’s worth confirming with yours. Your certificate lists your live clinical hours and online hours separately, which makes reporting easier if your board tracks them differently. The Medical Emergencies course comes with its own separate certificate.
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Yes. When you check out, you can choose to pay over time with Klarna or Afterpay. You’ll see your payment options and terms right at checkout, and approval is handled by the provider you choose.
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Yes. Essentials and Clinical Cohort students can add online electives at a reduced price. Topics include GLP-1 medications, diabetes drugs, vaping, peri-implant care and more. Private 1:1 students on the 45-hour path have electives included, chosen to fit their goals.
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Item descriptioTuition is paid in full at enrollment and is non-refundable. If you need to change your dates, you can transfer once to a future course within 12 months, as long as you give at least 14 days’ notice before your first clinical day. If you don’t attend and haven’t given notice, your tuition is forfeited. If Next Level Dental Hygiene cancels or reschedules a course, you can choose a full refund or a transfer to any future date.n
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Please bring:
Scrubs
Clinical jacket
Dental headlight (required, since there are no overhead operatory lights)
Loupes, if you have them
Provided for you:
Instruments and materials
You’re welcome to bring your own instruments if you’d like to practice sharpening them
Before your first clinical day:
Finish the online core courses
Ready to Get Back to Clinical Dental Hygiene?
Not sure Essentials is the right fit? Take the 2-minute intake, and we’ll recommend your path.
