Pharmacology Update for the Dental Team

Today, pharmaceuticals are being developed and brought to market faster than at any time in recent history. This is particularly true for drugs used to manage or treat chronic health conditions. In this presentation, a review of some of these new drugs will be reviewed along with an update on some important drug classes that have been around for a while. One of the newer drug classes that will be reviewed are the biologics and what the potential implications are for our practices when patients present with a history of being on one. The latest info on the changing landscape of blood thinners and diabetic drugs will be covered. Another ever changing class of drugs are the OTC herbal drugs, which will be reviewed discussing those that are relevant to dentistry. Finally, a review of pain medication options and current best practices.

After attending this live dental CEU webinar, your continuing education verification form will be available in your online account within 2-3 business days. Once issued, you can access your CE verification form at any time.

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course the participants should be able to:

1. Recognize the newest blood thinners and describe best practices in managing dental treatment for these patients
2. Recognize what OTC/herbal supplements and their impact on patient treatment planning
3. Describe current recommendations of the American Heart Association for antibiotic prophylaxis
4. Understand the current joint AAO/ADA consensus recommendation for prosthetic joint prophylaxis.
5. Describe best practices in pain management and differentiate between acute and chronic pain management
6. Describe what biologics are and identify those relevant to dentistry and patient management
7. Describe current best practices in managing patients on bisphophonates and other bone preserving drugs
8. Describe the implications of drugs to manage insulin resistance as it relates to dental treatment