MEDICALLY COMPLEX PATIENT

Dental professionals must frequently draw upon their knowledge of pharmacology for optimal care of today’s medically complex dental patients. However, armed with relatively brief exposure to such a vast subject during formal education and faced with ever-changing medication therapy guidelines, many dental professionals simply cannot keep up with the latest trends in disease state management. This program will provide an overview of the dental implications of prescription medications, non-prescription medications, herbal products, and nutritional supplements most frequently used by patients.

As referred to in the recent DEA requirements, special emphasis will be given to aspects of the safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, participants should be able to:

1. Identify some of the prescription medications most frequently encountered on a patient’s medical history and discuss their indications for use, adverse reactions, and impact on dental therapy.
2. Discuss some of the non-prescription medications most often used by dental patients and explain their impact on dental therapy, including situations that preclude their use.
3. Explore some of the most popular herbal products and nutritional supplements and discuss their purported uses and dental considerations.
4. Discuss aspects of the safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders.

About Live, Interactive Continuing Education Webinars

A live, interactive webinar is similar to attending a continuing education seminar in your community, except that you attend via your computer. Each course is done live in a format that allows your participation. Anyone who has access to a computer that can play sound can participate in an ACES webinar. No special computer knowledge or equipment is required to participate in our webinars. When you enroll in any ACES course, you will be sent an email with complete information on how to join the webinar and a copy of the course syllabus. At the conclusion of your live webinar, you will complete a course examination online. You will then be able to print your continuing education certificate from your computer.

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships:
Instructor: Tom Viola – No relevant financial relationship to report Education
Advisory Committee (EAC): Members of the EAC have no relevant financial relationships to report
ACES ownership and staff: No relevant financial relationship to report

Advanced Continuing Education Systems is an ADA CERP Recognized provider for dental continuing education. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

Advanced Continuing Education Systems designates this activity for 3 continuing education credits.

Advanced Continuing Education Systems (Provider RP4393) has been approved by the Dental Board of California as a provider of dental continuing education.