Better Medicine, Better Dentistry – Updates for the Treatment of Medically Complex Dental Patients

We commonly see medically complex patients. Management of these patient includes not only understanding the chronic disease states but also the medications the patient is taking. And finally, how does all this information potentially change how, when, and where these complex dental patients should be treated?

This interactive program looks at some of your most critical patients, common disease states and their management. 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. Most importantly, you will learn at least five strategies to successfully treat medically-complex patients on Monday morning; after all, the goal is to make sure all dental appointments are not just successful for your patient, but also for you and your staff.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the four main challenges of assessing medically complex dental patients.
• Discuss the concept of procedural risk and how to select and de-select appropriate patients.
• Describe the four main risk factors to consider when treating medically complex patients.
• Review common disease states and/or conditions such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, antibiotic prophylaxis, bleeding disorders, and more.
• Learn how to plan and implement a strategy for safe and effective dental treatment of patients with complex medical histories.

Dr. Goodchild, DMD, received his undergraduate degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He went on to receive his dental training at the University of Pennsylvania School Of Dental Medicine (Philadelphia, PA).

Dr. Goodchild has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and lectures internationally on the topics of treatment planning, treatment of medical complex dental patients, restorative dentistry, pharmacology, emergency medicine in dentistry, enteral sedation dentistry, and dental photography publications and dental textbooks. He is a founding member of the World Clinical Laser Institute.

He is currently the Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Premier Dental Products Company (Plymouth Meeting, PA) He is Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Creighton University School of Dentistry (Omaha, NE), and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (Newark, NJ). Dr. Goodchild maintains a private general dental practice in Jenkintown, PA.