Dental-Medical Management of an Aging Population

Core Competency Credit Course

Friday, October 5, 2007

Did you know that...

...10% of the 65+ population and 50% of the 85+ population may suffer from Alzheimer's disease?
...each year approximately 700,000 Americans will have a stroke, 160,000 will die and up to 200,000 will be permanently disabled?
...older adults are the leading consumers of medications, filling about 30 prescriptions a year on average and purchasing about 40% of all over-the-counter drugs?

The rapid growth of our older population is now presenting dental professionals with significant new challenges in clinical care. The need to provide safe and effective treatment for dental patients with dementia and stroke is now increasing. New and complex drug regimens are also more frequently encountered in the care of older adults and provoke additional patient management questions and concerns. This continuing dental education course brings together a team of experts in geriatric dental and medical care to discuss current clinical management strategies for patients with dementia, stroke, and drug therapy issues.

At the completion of this course you will be able to:

• recognize the signs and symptoms of dementia and stroke.
• discuss current concepts in diagnosis and management of dementia and stroke.
• identify potential implications of dementia and stroke for oral health and dental care.
• describe dental treatment planning modifications applicable to the care of older adults with dementia and stroke.
• describe practical strategies to facilitate clinical dental care delivery for patients with dementia and stroke.
• recognize potential systemic and oral complications of drug therapy in the elderly.
• identify aging changes that require modifications in drug therapy for the elderly.
• discuss the safe management of dental care for older adults taking anticoagulants and bisphosphonates.
• describe appropriate use of common dental drugs, including local anesthetics, analgesics, and sedatives for older adults.

Robert G. Henry, DMD, MPH, Director of Geriatric Dental Services and Assistant Chief of Dentistry, V.A. Medical Center, Lexington, KY; Clinical Associate Professor, University Of Kentucky College Of Dentistry; Research Associate, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky; Assistant Director, Public Health Dentistry Department, State of Kentucky.

Thomas E. Lackner, PharmD, FASCP, CGP, Professor, College of Pharmacy and Institute for the Study of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, University of Minnesota; Interprofessional Clinical Pharmacist, Walker Methodist Health Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Kamakshi Lakshminarayan, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota Medical School; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

J. Riley McCarten, MD, Medical Director, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Minneapolis V.A. Medical Center; Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota Medical School; Medical Director, University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview Memory Clinic.

John C. Ofstehage, DDS, Director of Geriatric Dental Programs and General Practice Residency Program, Minneapolis V.A. Medical Center; Adjunct Associate Professor, Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program, Department of Primary Dental Care, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

Stephen K. Shuman, DDS, MS, Associate Professor and Director, Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program, Department of Primary Dental Care, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry; Dental Director, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation Senior Dental Clinic, St. Paul, MN; Walker Methodist Dental Clinic, Minneapolis; and Presbyterian Dental Program, Presbyterian Homes of Arden Hills and Roseville. This course is under the direction of Dr. Shuman.

This program is offered in partnership with the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Medical Center, Bloomington, MN.