Course Description

Mysteries Behind the Medical Histories! (2 hrs)
What potential complications lurk behind the patient’s medical history that may impact dental therapy, alter treatment plans and perhaps even result in medical emergencies? Armed only with a summary of past and current disease states and a list of current medications, will you be able to decipher the clues, solve the mystery and employ innovative treatment strategies to save the day?

This program will provide an overview of the dental implications of the medications, supplements and substances of abuse most frequently used by patients. This course will provide practical tools dental professionals can apply every day to assist them in interpreting the information contained in a patient’s medical history and understanding the impact on dental treatment planning and patient care.

1. The Medical History

   1. Importance of the Medical History

   2. Essential Components of the Medical History

   3. Strategies for the Successful Patient Interviews

2. Patient One

   1. Review of Medical History As Presented

   2. Review of Systemic Diseases

   3. Discussion of Oro-Systemic Connections

   4. Review of Medications and Treatments

   5. Review of Dental Considerations

   6. Discussion of Treatment Planning Strategies

3. Patient Two

   1. Review of Medical History As Presented

   2. Review of Systemic Diseases

   3. Discussion of Oro-Systemic Connections

   4. Review of Medications and Treatments

   5. Review of Dental Considerations

   6. Discussion of Treatment Planning Strategies

4. Patient Three

   1. Review of Medical History As Presented

   2. Review of Systemic Diseases

   3. Discussion of Oro-Systemic Connections

   4. Review of Medications and Treatments

   5. Review of Dental Considerations

   6. Discussion of Treatment Planning Strategies

Appropriate Prescribing Practices for Opioid Analgesics in the Dental Office (2 hrs)
Management of acute dental pain is accomplished with the use of non-opioid and opioid analgesics. However, this normally occurs outside the dental office, away from the immediate supervision of the clinician, who is often faced with the difficult task of managing patient pain while also avoiding adverse outcomes for both the patient and their communities. Thus, it is critical for clinicians to be able to accurately identify the need for pain control, individualize patient care based on this need as well as associated risks, assess the efficacy of analgesic agents prescribed and monitor for their appropriate use. This program will provide participants with an overview of the pharmacology of pain control and the effective management of acute dental pain using non-opioid and opioid analgesics. Special emphasis will be given to appropriate prescribing practices for opioid analgesics.

5. The Concept of Pain

   1. Pain Threshold and Pain Tolerance

   2. Psychosocial and Emotional Factors
   3. Pathophysiology of Pain

6. Identification of Opioid Addiction

   1. Techniques and Cues For Identifying Opioid Abuse

   2. Strategies For Managing Opioid-Abusing Patients

7. Management of Acute Dental Pain -
   Non-opioid Analgesics & Acetaminophen (APAP)

   1. Clinical Pharmacology

   2. Equianalgesic Doses

   3. NSAIDs

      1. Mechanism of Action
      2. Pharmacologic Effects
      3. Clinical Considerations - Adverse Reactions, Drug Interactions & Contraindications

8. Management of Acute Dental Pain -
   Opioid Analgesics

   1. Clinical Pharmacology
   2. Available Formulations
   3. Codeine, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone
      1. Mechanism of Action
      2. Pharmacologic Effects
      3. Clinical Considerations - Adverse Reactions, Drug Interactions & Contraindications
9. Appropriate Opioid Prescribing Practices
10. Preventing Opioid Abuse and Diversion

Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Local Anesthesia: An Overview & Update (4 hrs)
Due to their potential for producing life-threatening systemic adverse reactions, a thorough knowledge of the pharmacological and clinical properties of local anesthetic agents is essential for their safe and effective use. This program will provide participants with an overview of the pharmacology and therapeutics of local anesthetic agents. Special emphasis will be given to those agents commonly administered in dental practice and patient management techniques necessary with specific disease states.

Please note this live, interactive webinar will have an Exit Exam for those that need it for CE requirements. The Exit Exam will be provided at the close of the webinar with the evaluation survey.

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.

11. Local Anesthesia Pharmacology Basics

    1. Neuroanatomy

    2. Neurophysiology

    3. Biochemistry and Mechanism of Action

12. Review of Dental Local Anesthetic Preparations

    1. Local Anesthetic Agents for Injection

    2. Local Anesthetic Agents for Topical Use

    3. Vasoconstrictors

13. Patient Care Considerations

    1. Medical History Review

    2. Physical Evaluation

    3. Significant Drug Interactions

    4. Absolute Contraindications
    5. Relative Contraindications
    6. Considerations with Epinephrine

14. Patient Management

    1. The Medically Complex Dental Patient

    2. Treatment Modifications

    3. Patient Care Planning

The educational teaching methodology used in this course is live lecture presented in concert with an accompanying PowerPoint presentation. Both the live lecture and the PowerPoint presentation incorporate a variety of audio and visual cues to enhance audience members’ understanding and retention of key concepts. In addition, audience participation will be encouraged and facilitated by group discussions as well as question and answer periods provided for at the conclusion of each section of the live lecture."

Registrations for this live webinar have been closed.

Course Objectives

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

1. Discuss the medications, supplements and substances of abuse most frequently encountered on a patient’s medical history and their impact on dental therapy.
2. Describe medication-induced and systemic illness-induced xerostomia and specific clinical technologies dental professionals may employ to combat its negative effects.
3. Explore innovative treatment options available with injectable and topical anesthetics for managing pain in medically complex patients.
4. Identify the clinical signs and symptoms of undiagnosed systemic illness which may be present during routine oral examination.
5. Describe the pharmacology and mechanism of action of non-opioid and opioid analgesics, as well as their potential for abuse.
6. Explain the intended role of non-opioid and opioid analgesics in the treatment of dental pain, as well as situations which may preclude their use.
7. Describe strategies useful in developing a pain management plan that is individualized for a patient’s needs and underlying medical conditions.
8. Understand appropriate prescribing practices to utilize in everyday clinical situations.
9. Explain the basic concepts of neurophysiology and nerve conduction and the mechanism of action of local anesthetic agents
10. Differentiate between the two major classes of local anesthetic agents with respect to their distribution, metabolism and routes of excretion
11. Discuss the rationale for the use of vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic solutions and their potential effects in common organ system disease states
12. Specify the various local anesthetic agent combinations most commonly used in dentistry and the rationale for their use in specific clinical situations
13. Discuss general adverse effects, contraindications and patient care considerations with the use of local anesthetics.

What People Are Saying

• "Dr. Viola kept me engaged with his superior knowledge and wit which made the session feel almost live in my office. Very easy to address questions, smooth transitions."
  
  
• "Dr. Viola was very informative with added personality"
  
  
• "The webinar kept my attention and was very easy to understand the material."