When patients ask, "What products should I use for better oral health?" dental practitioners should be able to provide evidence-based answers. When they are taking a variety of medications and present with changes in oral tissues, are these changes medication related? This course is designed to help dental practitioners update their patients with information on the latest therapeutic non-prescription and prescription oral health care products and to facilitate the identification of oral manifestations of systemic medications. This course will also review recent developments in chemotherapeutic oral health care products, including mouth rinses and dentifrices; herbal products and agents for the non-surgical management of periodontal disease; and the periodontal considerations for implants.

Organized into three sections, the first section presents an overview of allergic reactions, examples of allergic reactions that manifest as soft-tissue lesions, and an in-depth review of oral manifestations of systemic medications, including herbal products. The second section presents current information on mouth rinses, dentifrices, and irrigants as adjuncts to periodontal therapy; guidelines for recommending oral care products to your patients; and a summary of tooth whitening/bleaching agents. The third section provides guidance in perio-chemotherapeutics, locally delivered medications, and host modulation as adjuncts to periodontal and implant therapy. This course is geared toward general dentists, specialists, and hygienists.

This course will enable participants to understand:

•  The role of non-prescription dental care products in maintaining oral health.
•  The role of medications as an adjunct to periodontal therapy.
•  Periodontal considerations for dental implants.