Dr. Leslie Fang addresses the recent fanfare surrounding new drugs for the treatment of diabetes, weight loss, and congestive heart failure. What are the dental implications?
By Susan Richards
There have been significant updates in the clinical world of sedation dentistry, and dental professionals need to stay apprised and understand the developments that may impact their patients’ care.
In a recent DOCS Education Elite Learning Series presentation, Dr. Leslie S.T. Fang, MD, PhD, shared a comprehensive review of the latest in medicine and dentistry. In Pay to Starve: You Are What You Eat, he discussed the newest medication options for diabetes mellitus and weight loss management, their impact on cardiovascular conditions, and oral complications for patients on chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
Diabetes and Designer Weight Loss Drugs
When reviewing the treatment, monitoring, and technology of diabetes mellitus, Dr. Fang said dentists can expect to see one in eight of their patients to be diabetic, the majority of them Type 2. New medications on the market will soon be the standard, so dentists must be aware of them.
“At this particular time, you are seeing Ozempic ads like the drug company owns the media,” quipped Dr. Fang. “And they do because what’s happening on this front will be astounding.”
In addition to Ozempic, Dr. Fang introduced dentists to Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, explaining the science behind these drugs and why they’re going through the roof in popularity for weight loss.
The Four Pillars of Managing Heart Failure in 2024
Aside from the clear benefits of these medications for weight loss, blood sugar control, and blood pressure management, we’re also seeing cardiac and stroke protection. Dr. Fang addresses patients' side effects and contraindications on these semiglutide medications and sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors like Jardiance.
“You’re going to be seeing a huge number of people walking in on Jardiance, and they may not be diabetic at all,” said Dr. Fang, explaining the four pillars of managing congestive heart failure and how these medications may influence dental interventions.
Cancer Patients and the Oral Health Implications
The final topic of Dr. Fang’s presentation covered the oral health implications of patients with head and neck cancers. You’ll understand the differences between traditional cancer therapies and immunotherapies and how these treatments may impact your dental patients.
Dr. Fang reviewed the science behind the checkpoint inhibitors for patients undergoing cancer treatment, the related oral complications, and when to avoid elective dentistry for patients with adverse effects.
The Latest Ultimate Cheat Sheets Update
As well as being the DOCS Education Medical Director, Dr. Leslie Fang is widely respected in the medical, dental, and academic communities. He is frequently a featured speaker at medical and dental conferences and has authored many medical texts, teaching series, and reference manuals.
His popular chair-side reference guide, The Ultimate Cheat Sheets, has been named Educational Product of the Year by Clinicians’ Report from 2008-2018 and was recently updated with the material covered in this webinar and much more.
“I’m very, very excited about the 14th Edition of The Ultimate Cheat Sheets,” said Dr. Fang, sharing that the updated version has been nine months in progress and “there’s no question whatsoever that a lot has changed” since the last edition.
As usual, Dr. Fang’s latest update on the medications and situations dental professionals will face in the coming year has been invaluable. If you're interested in learning more, the course Pay to Starve: You Are What You Eat is now available online for home study and includes the informative question-and-answer session that followed the presentation.
To watch this course, click here. DOCS Members and Trial Members can watch for free and earn 2 CE hours for a limited time.
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Author: Susan Richards is an award-winning staff writer at DOCS Education. With more than 20 years of experience in local journalism, feature writing, and business marketing, Susan enjoys creating content with context for various industries.
