CE0713: The Art of Dental Therapeutics: Drugs and Drug Interactions

Mark Donaldson, BSc (Pharm), RPh, PharmD

Course Description:

Did you know that more than 20% of hospital admissions are due to adverse drug reactions? Dentists prescribe from less than 10% of all available drugs, while your patients may be taking others from the 90% with which you may not be familiar. Since polypharmacy is the norm, especially in the over 65-year old population, this course is essential to every practice setting today.

Do you have patients who are already on one prescription medication before they come to your office? How about four prescription medications? Did you know that the likelihood of a drug interaction in a patient on five medications is greater than 50%? What if you are the prescriber who writes the fifth prescription? With so many new medications, herbal products, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements available on the market, how can you be confident that the prescription you write is compatible with what your patient is currently taking?

This interactive program looks at some of the more common drugs and drug interactions and their management with a particular focus on the dental realm. Case studies will augment the delivery of key points and a problem-based learning approach is encouraged so that each participant's questions are addressed. After all, when an adverse drug reaction occurs due to a drug interaction, who is more at risk - you or your patient?

Course Objectives - As a result of attending this course, the participant should be able to:

• Outline what constitutes a good medical history
• Recognize polypharmacy in dentistry
• Avoid some of the pitfalls of potential drug interactions
• Describe pharmacokinetic principles and how they apply to your practice
• Discuss why some usual medications are NOT always the drugs of choice
• Avoid choosing the wrong drug for a patient

Instructor:

MARK DONALDSON received his BSc (Pharm.) from the University of British Columbia and his Doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Washington. He completed a clinical residency at Vancouver General Hospital and is the current Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center near his home in Whitefish, Montana. He is an affiliate faculty member of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in Missoula, and a clinical assistant professor in the School of Dentistry at the Oregon Health Sciences University.

Dr. Donaldson is a continuing education speaker for the University of Washington, Washington State University, Oregon Health Sciences University, the Duke School of Medicine and the University of British Columbia. He has a special interest in dental pharmacology and has lectured internationally on a number of related topics for both dental and medical practitioners. He spent three years in Japan focusing on cross-cultural communication and internationalization, and he has two of the cutest children in the world.

Lunch Selection:

All meals are accompanied by a dessert and bottled water. Sandwiches come with a side salad, and salads come with rustic artisan bread.

Turkey Sandwich with Provolone*: sliced roast turkey breast, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato on whole wheat.

Roasted Veggie Sandwich: seasonal roasted veggies such as; zucchini, red bell peppers, mushrooms, or eggplant with mixed greens and vegetarian spread on whole wheat.

Chicken Caesar Salad: sliced, roasted chicken breast, parmesan cheese and croutons on romaine lettuce, with Caesar dressing and a lemon wedge.

*Note: If we have not received your specified request by Friday, October 12, the default option - Turkey Sandwich with Provolone - will be ordered for you.

Similar Courses that might be of interest to you:
CE0705 - Drugs, Herbs and Nutraceuticals - September 21, 2007
CE0711 - Legal Issues in Dentistry - October 12, 2007
CE0740 - Drugs and Dentistry - What's New? - January 25, 2008
CE0780 - Dentistry for the Aging Population - May 2, 2008
CE0781 - Oral Health Products for Home Use - What Should I Recommend? - May 9, 2008

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