Leslie S.T. Fang, MD, PhD, and Tracey Wong Menhall, MSc, bridge medicine and dentistry in a new guide designed to support dentists treating high-risk patients.
By Susan Richards
You would be hard-pressed to find members of the DOCS Education and sedation dentistry communities who are not familiar with Dr. Leslie S.T. Fang, MD, PhD. Although not a dentist himself, Dr. Fang has been teaching countless dental professionals about the important relationship between medicine and dentistry for DOCS since 2008.
As Medical Director at DOCS Education, he has long played a key role in helping providers understand and manage the complex medical conditions that can impact dental care. He is board-certified in Nephrology and Internal Medicine and has been repeatedly honored as one of “America’s Top Doctors” and “The Best Doctors of Boston.”
Many dentists rely on his award-winning reference guide, The Ultimate Cheat Sheets, co-authored by Tracey Wong Menhall, BS, MS, CPA, currently in its 14th edition. After five years in the making, the pair has released an exciting new book titled The Medical Guide for Dentists Treating Complex Patients.
“This book is a compilation of what dentists want, beyond the Ultimate Cheat Sheets,” explains Dr. Fang.
As the title suggests, it's a comprehensive guide addressing the evaluation and management of complex medical conditions seen in dental patients and how their care may be impacted.
A Fortuitous Seating Chart
The inception of Dr. Fang's latest book began many years ago at Harvard Medical School, thanks to an alphabetical protocol.
It was the first day of education that preceded clinical studies for both doctors and dentists. The seating order was determined alphabetically, positioning two very different men next to one another: Dr. Leslie Fang and Dr. Robert Fazio.
Dr. Fazio prophetically declared they would be friends for life and insisted they would eventually work together, despite different academic pursuits.
A partnership was born.
While Fang became a successful nephrologist and Fazio established himself as a periodontist, they would often discuss the limited understanding of medical issues, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, within the practice of dentistry. Dr. Fazio suggested that they write a book together, reflecting the need to bridge the gap between medical and dental care.
They went on to co-author The Principle and Practice of Oral Medicine, Oral Medicine Secrets, Interactive Learning in Antibiotic Therapy, and eventually, the original Ultimate Cheat Sheets.
Robert Fazio passed away in 2018, but not before introducing Dr. Fang to Dr. Michael Silverman and DOCS Education. His loss was felt greatly in the dental community and particularly by his lifelong friend.
“Without him, we never would've been able to start this journey.”
A Serendipitous Start
Meanwhile, another serendipitous connection was made when Dr. Fang met Tracey Wong Menhall at an international event 25 years ago. Menhall mentioned she was seeking employment that would allow her to use her brain and work from home to care for her family.
Despite her education and background in finance, Dr. Fang offered Menhall a job the next day to help him with research. She had doubts as to her qualifications back then, but said with a laugh, “Dr. Fang is the type of guy who can teach a pig how to fly - so I flew!”
Among Tracey's contributions to the work throughout the years are:
- Helping Drs. Fang and Fazio translate their live presentations into their writing style.
- Configuring the algorithm of the Cheat Sheets format.
- Adopting the traffic light system of rating dental cases.
- All creative aspects of Dr. Fang's lectures and slide presentations.
“Tracey does everything outside the practice of medicine,” said Dr. Fang.
Indeed, she likens herself as Robin to his Batman, and there's no question that their collaboration has provided dentists with “super” skills and knowledge.
A Look Inside the Guide
In addition to co-authoring the Ultimate Cheat Sheets, Menhall organizes and oversees the production of each edition, which is self-published due to its table format and the need for constant updates. The launch of the new medical guide is no different, and she's deservedly proud of the results.
The Medical Guide for Dentists Treating Complex Patients contains 45 chapters structured with an introduction, evaluation of medical conditions, and management of dental therapy. Additionally, it emphasizes the value of dental professionals understanding a wide variety of medical issues and medications to ensure patient safety and optimal care.
As well as protocols for managing dental emergencies and pain control while minimizing the use of narcotics, topics include:
- The importance of a thorough medical history.
- Techniques for diagnosing oral lesions and other conditions.
- Pharmacology and the most common drugs prescribed in dentistry, such as analgesics, local anesthetics, and antibiotics.
- Detailed dental strategies for patients with specific medical conditions, including diabetes, cancer, thyroid conditions, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases.
- Informed management of dental care for pregnant patients, nursing mothers, and patients requiring sedation dentistry.
- Guidelines for antibiotic premedication for specific patients and medical conditions.
Ultimately, Dr. Fang's objective with this book is to provide an expanded look at the science behind the Cheat Sheets, serving as an essential resource for dental practitioners. As we navigate the frontier of treating medically compromised patients safely and effectively, Dr. Fang and Menhall hope to continue their construction of a bridge between medicine and dentistry.
To learn more about The Medical Guide for Dentists Treating Complex Patients, click here for more information or to purchase.
Author: Susan Richards is a staff writer at DOCS Education with over 20 years of experience in local journalism and business marketing. Her career includes award-winning feature writing, as well as creating content with context for a wide variety of industries.
