2021 AAOM Virtual Annual Conference Schedule Day 1

Sol Silverman Memorial Lecture | Location, Location, Location: influence of local factors in the outcome of mucosal HPV infection
Joel Palefsky, MD
Moderators: Herve Sroussi DMD PhD, Caroline Shiboski, DDS, MPH, PhD

This talk will explore the similarities and differences between the oral, cervical, and anal mucosal human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and their implications for understanding the pathogenesis of HPV-related neoplasia at these anatomic locations.

Learning objectives:

1. Understand the epidemiology of HPV infection and HPV-associated neoplasia in the oropharyngeal cavity, cervix and anus.

2. Understand differences in the oropharyngeal, cervical and anal microenvironments and their role in the pathogenesis of HPV infection.

3. Explore how understanding of local factors may lead to new approaches to prevention and treatment of HPV-associated neoplasia at these sites.

Plenary Session 1: The Pursuit of Better Patient-Centered Outcomes
Moderators: Arwa Farag, BDS, DMSc, Jennifer Frustino

Improving quality of life is dependent on complex factors and numerous requirements other than the selection of therapeutic modalities. This session sheds light on the prerequisites and fundamental strategies that should be implemented to improve outcomes of therapeutic interventions and patients’ quality of life.

Plenary Session 1A | Oral Cancer awareness: Support, Advocacy, and Hope for Better Outcomes
Amanda Hollinger, MPA

Though potentially lethal, cancers of the head and neck are highly treatable, particularly when diagnosed early. The death toll is high due to lack of public awareness, combined with lack of appropriate screening by medical and dental professionals. This talk highlights the need for conjunctive and well- aligned efforts from dental/medical practitioners and oral cancer advocacy groups to move forward with raising awareness about the importance of early detection or prevention of oral and pharyngeal cancer.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain exposure to cancer advocacy groups and their missions that are rooted in science.

2. Learn to advocate for national policies that facilitate public awareness, early detection, treatment outcomes improvement for oral and pharyngeal cancer.

3. Appreciate patient stories and quality of life outcomes that have motivated organized support groups and advocacy.

Plenary Session 1B | Standardization and Validation of Treatment Outcome Measures in Oral Mucosal Lesions
Richael Riordain, BDS, PhD

This talk highlights the need for developing standardized and well-validated sets of treatment outcome measures for many oral conditions managed at the OM clinics and studied in RCTs. The session will further display the current initiatives and collaborative strategies, with other closely related disciplines, to develop and reach consensuses for patient-centered outcome measures in oral medicine. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the importance and future impact of standardized and well-validated patient-centered treatment outcome measures.

2. Acquire knowledge about the different methodologies followed to develop and reach consensus for outcome measures.

3. Appreciate the current initiatives and strategic plans to develop a standardize set of outcome measures for conditions managed at the oral medicine clinic and studied in clinical trials.

Plenary Session 1C | Disease Definition and Diagnostic Criteria in Neuropathic Pain: A Call for Consensus
Justin Durham, BDS MFDSRCS FDSRCS (OS), PhD

Accuracy and consistency of disease definition and diagnostic criteria are imperative for delivery of high-quality clinical care and conduction of sound randomized clinical trials. Several neuropathic pain conditions in the head and neck region suffers from inaccurate definitions and inconsistent diagnostic criteria that, consequently, hinders the success of therapeutic interventions and compromises the reliability of research outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discern the inaccuracies/inconsistencies of disease definitions and diagnostic criteria in several neuropathic pain condition in the head and neck region.

2. Appreciate the recent collaborative efforts that produced the first edition of the International Classification of Orofacial Pain (with emphasis on neuropathic pain).

3. Learn about the future task force missions and the calls for further clinical and epidemiological investigations to optimize the current knowledge on head and neck neuropathic pain.

2020 & 2021 Poster Sessions / Long Break

Oral Medicine Practice Session
Moderator: Joel Napenas

Bacteremia as a result of oral diseases and invasive dental procedures has long been implicated as a risk factor in the development of distant site infectious cardiovascular conditions of high morbidity. Performing invasive and/or stressful dental procedures on this population is a concern given the compromised systemic reserve of cardiac patients to withstand dental care. This session demonstrates the need for clear consensus regarding the extent of dental care required to optimize patients for cardiac surgery.

Learning objectives:

1. Provide an overview of cardiac conditions and interventions that are implicated to be impacted by oral health from an infectious standpoint. 

2. Provide the latest literature on the impact of oral diseases and dental procedures on the development of distant site cardiovascular infectious conditions as well as the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in the prevention of these conditions.

3. Outline the issues surrounding the provision of dental care in the management of cardiac patients, outlining the risks vs. benefits, and the modifications and precautions required when administering treatment.