Weeth Lecture 2023

Ms. Karen Baker

Parking is NOT complimentary.  The nearest parking garages to the Nebraska Student Union are University Square Garage (101 N. 14th St.), Que Place Garage (1111 Q St.),  Larson Building & Garage (1317 Q St.)

Speaker:

Professor Karen Baker has been on the Dental College faculty at the University of Iowa for 38 years and occupies a unique role in dental practice and education. She is a clinical pharmacist with a Master’s degree in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics and is focused on patient-specific dental drug therapy.  She has given well over 1000 invited programs nationally and internationally and holds memberships in many dental and clinical pharmacology and therapeutics organizations. Her dental education-based pharmacy and drug therapy consultation center is the only one in the United States. She has authored more than 50 articles and abstracts and lectures extensively in pre-doctoral and graduate courses at the University of Iowa. 

DRUGS AND DENTISTRY: NEW ISSUES & NEWER SOLUTIONS

Course Description: 

Increasing numbers of dental patients are uncontrolled hypertensives or diabetics with complex oral health problems. Many new cardiovascular, central nervous system, and endocrine drugs can interact with dental drugs or affect bleeding or wound healing. Patient self-medication with supplements and over-the-counter drugs has recently been recognized as potentially risky in dentistry. Consequently, more and more patients report chemical and drug allergies and intolerances. Dental professionals are frequently faced with medically complex and chemically challenged patients and need practical strategies for providing safe and appropriate care.   The purpose of this course is to identify new drug-related problems encountered in dental practice and to outline practical management solutions.   Drug and supplement references will be compared and recommendations about clinical usefulness will be discussed.  Controversial issues related to the new total joint prophylaxis guidelines, dietary supplement dangers, and dental drug interactions will be presented.  Throughout the program, primary emphasis will be placed on developing consistent strategies for treating medically complex dental patients. An extensive and very current handout will greatly enhance the chair-side value of this fast-paced, comprehensive and practical course.

At the conclusion of this course, the attendees should be able to:

1. Recognize the specific dental treatment modifications necessary to prevent complications in patients with major cardiovascular or central nervous system disorders,
2. prescribe and explain antibiotic pre-medication based on new or updated guidelines,
3. modify dental treatment for patients on new chronic medications for diabetes, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and
4. identify the chronic medications or dietary supplements likely to precipitate major interactions dental antibiotics, analgesics, local anesthetics, and oral or parenteral anesthesia agents.

Method of teaching: Lecture/discussion

The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry Office of Continuing Education is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

The college is a member of the American Dental Education Association and the Association for Continuing Dental Education.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry Office of Continuing Education designates this activity for 6 continuing education credits.