2025 AAOM WINTER VIRTUAL MEETING
EDUCATION SESSIONS
Saturday, January 25
MODULE 1
Risk Assessment and Precautions: How Can Clinical Research and Statistics Improve Care for Patients with Medical Complexity?
TIME: 09:10 - 10:00 EST {45-minute lecture + 5 minutes Q&A}
SPEAKER: Michael Glick, DMD, Executive Director, Center for Integrative Global Oral Health
Fields-Rayant Endowed Professor of Integrative Global Oral Health
Professor of Clinical Preventive and Restorative Sciences, Department of Oral Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
SYNOPSIS: Obtaining a medical history involves not only asking questions but also evaluating the answers. Effective questioning extends beyond verbal communication and includes interpretation of laboratory results. The ability to accurately understand and interpret these answers is a critical skill that can be refined through the application of clinical research and statistical concepts. Additionally, applying data from the biomedical literature to individual patients requires a process that is explicit, precise, and communicable to both patients and other healthcare professionals. This presentation will explore how clinical research and statistical methods can be leveraged to enhance patient care especially when it comes to those with medical complexities.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Understand the role of clinical research and statistical concepts in improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment decisions.
- Develop skills to critically interpret biomedical data, including laboratory results and findings from the literature, for application in patient care.
- Learn to effectively communicate evidence-based insights to patients and healthcare teams to support collaborative decision-making.
MODULE 2
Immunocompromised Patients in the Dental Clinics: Modern Practice Updates
TIME: 10:00 - 11:00 EST {25-minute lecture+ 25-minute clinical cases + 10 minutes Q&A}
SPEAKERS:
Nathaniel Simon Treister, DMD, DMSc
Associate Professor of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Chief, Division of Oral Medicine and Dentistry, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Past President, American Academy of Oral Medicine
Brittany A Klein, DDS
Oral Medicine Specialist, Department of Otolaryngology, Atrius Health
Part-time Instructor of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Roopali Kulkarni, DMD, MPH
Assistant Director, Postgraduate Oral Medicine Program
Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine, Penn Dental Medicine
SYNOPSIS: The reasons for and implications of immunocompromise in modern medicine are ever evolving. Conditions that once rendered a patient intractably immunocompromised, such as HIV, can now often be well-controlled with medication, in some cases normalizing a patient’s immune status. Biologics used to manage rheumatologic conditions have specific targets, and thus specific risks, compared to their historic, and often still utilized, counterparts - traditional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and corticosteroids. Blood dyscrasias and their treatment can both lead to states of immunocompromise – as can the management of solid cancers. It is imperative that dental professionals be able to sift through a medical history, medication list, and laboratory studies to identify the presence, severity, and treatment implications of immunocompromise. This presentation will offer case-based contemporary examples of disease- and treatment-related immunocompromise with guidance on appropriate management in the dental clinic.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Identify patients who are or who are at risk for immunocompromise based on a thorough medical history.
- Assess relative risk of immunocompromise in the dental setting based on history and laboratory studies.
- Develop appropriate plans to address risks associated with immunocompromise in the dental setting.
MODULE 3
Common Bleeding Risks in Dental Practice: Contemporary Management Approaches
TIME: 11:00 - 12:00 NOON EST {25-minute lecture + 25-minute clinical cases + 10 minutes Q&A}
SPEAKER: Eric C. Sung, D.D.S.
Professor of Clinical Dentistry
Vice Chair of the Division of Advanced Prosthodontics
Chair of the Section of Special Patient Care
Momentum Endowed Chair in Special Patient Care
UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA
SYNOPSIS: This virtual education module explores evidence-based approaches to managing dental patients with an elevated risk of bleeding. Through a blend of a lecture and interactive case discussions, participants will gain practical insights into assessing bleeding risk, tailoring dental care plans/management strategies, and addressing complications. This session is ideal for dental professionals seeking to enhance their clinical decision-making skills and ensure safe, effective care for patients with bleeding concerns.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Identify the common medical conditions and treatments that increase bleeding risk in dental patients and understand their implications for oral care.
- Develop evidence-based management strategies for patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy, including collaboration with medical providers.
- Apply principles of safe dental care through interactive case discussions, focusing on real-world scenarios involving bleeding risk and post-procedure hemostasis
BREAK | 12:00 NOON - 12:30PM EST
MODULE 4
Decoding Common Medical Mysteries: Clinical Cases Discussion
TIME: 12:30 -13:30 EST {50-minute clinical cases discussion + 10 minutes Q&A}
SPEAKERS:
Craig S. Miller, DMD
Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (UKCD)
Thamer Musbah, BDS
Associate Professor and Chief, Division of Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.
SYNOPSIS: Investigating and managing patients with common medical comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in a dental setting requires a thorough understanding of their systemic conditions and how these impact oral health and treatment planning. This educational module provides an in-depth exploration of key considerations when treating these patients, including medication interactions, stress management, and risk of complications. Through real-world clinical cases, participants will gain practical strategies to optimize care, improve patient safety, and ensure effective communication with interdisciplinary teams.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
- Recognize the oral and systemic health interconnections in patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes and their implications for dental care.
- Learn to evaluate and manage risks associated with common cardiovascular and diabetic medications, stress-induced events, and potential emergencies during dental procedures.
- Develop tailored dental treatment plans for patients with cardiovascular and diabetic comorbidities, incorporating interdisciplinary collaboration and patient education.
MODULE 5
Adapting to Change: Modern Dental Management and Oral Care in a Diverse Demographic Landscape
TIME: 13:30 - 14:00 EST {25-minute lecture+ 25-minute clinical cases + 10 minutes Q&A}
SPEAKER: Arwa Farag, BDS, DMSc, FRCSEd.
Associate Professor, King AbdulAziz University Faculty of Dentistry, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
SYNOPSIS: The evolving demographics of modern society, including increasing cannabis use, the unique needs of transgender individuals, challenges from social isolation, and the implications of weight loss trends, require a reimagined approach to oral healthcare. This educational module explores these trends' oral health impacts, emphasizing evidence-based dental management strategies tailored to these populations. Participants will gain insights into identifying, addressing, and preventing oral health complications in these demographic groups, fostering a more inclusive and proactive dental practice.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Analyze how evolving societal trends—such as increased cannabis use, transgender healthcare needs, social isolation, and weight loss practices—affect oral health.
- Formulate practical, evidence-based dental management approaches that address the unique oral care needs of these demographic groups, ensuring sensitivity and inclusivity.
- Implement preventative strategies and patient education to mitigate oral health risks associated with these evolving demographic factors.
MODULE 6
Closing Lecture: Role of 'Living' Evidence-Informed Practice Guidelines in Clinical Care
TIME: 14:00 - 14:50 EST {45-minute lecture + 5-minute Q&A}
SPEAKER: Alonso Carrasco-Labra, DDS, PhD
Associate Professor, Preventive and Restorative Sciences and Center for Integrative Global Oral Health (CIGOH), Penn Dental Medicine
SYNOPSIS: Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed reports containing recommendations, which are actionable statements that assist patients, practitioners, caregivers, and policymakers in making decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific clinical circumstances. Guidelines integrate the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values and preferences, with the goal of improving patient outcomes, increasing consistency in care, and facilitating efficient use of resources. Traditional guidelines often take years to update, leading to a gap between research findings and practical application, which affects the quality of patient care and slows down the transfer of research findings into practice. Living guidelines, however, maintain currency through frequent updates informed by living systematic reviews, which continually monitor new research evidence. This represents a shift toward more responsive, flexible clinical guidance that bridges the gap between knowledge generation and practical application to improve the timeliness and relevance of healthcare decisions.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Learn the key elements that make a clinical practice guideline trustworthy, evidence basis, management of conflict of interest, and rigor in development.
- Appreciate the importance of involving a diverse group of stakeholders, including practitioners, patient partners, researchers, and specialists, in the guideline development process.
- Acquire a comprehensive understanding of how living guidelines operate, including their role in reducing the knowledge-to-practice time lag and the importance of frequent updates in clinical and public health decision-making.
Contact AAOM if you have any questions. We are happy to assist you.
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