Oral Sedation Recertification: Respiratory Disease, Apnea, New Antiplatelet drugs & Diabetes

This course consists of three modules. You’ll earn four hours of continuing education credit upon completion.

Sedation dentists treat patients with a variety of diseases. Some of those diseases, like asthma and diabetes, are commonplace and well diagnosed. Others, like sleep apnea, are common but go largely undiagnosed. Still, others like osteonecrosis of the jaw appear as adverse reactions caused by drugs used for bone cancers and osteoporosis.

Treating patients with these diseases or related symptoms requires a keen understanding of how their body is likely to respond to sedation. It’s also critical to know how the drugs they’re taking will interact with sedatives used in dental treatments.

In this recertification course, Drs. Anthony Feck and Leslie Fang share patient selection best practices as well as new treatment options for patients who want sedation dentistry but suffer from compromised health.

Course Objectives:

Part I: Respiratory Disease & Sleep Apnea

According to the CDC, more than 25 million Americans have asthma, 11 million have COPD, and many more are undiagnosed. Sleep apnea can also put an enormous strain on a patient’s health. In the first module, Dr. Feck provides an overview of the respiratory system and its significance when providing sedation. Additional learning objectives include:

• The two most common respiratory diseases and related medications 
• The difference between hypercarbic and hypoxic drive responses
• The best diagnostic tests for assessing respiratory function
• The respiratory factors for successful sedation patient selection
• Why identifying patients with sleep apnea should be a priority for sedation
• Determining how to safely sedate apnea patients

Part II: Osteonecrosis

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is an adverse reaction to drug therapy that is difficult to treat. Both anti-cancer drugs (angiogenesis inhibitors) and bone-strengthening drugs (bisphosphonates) have been associated with MRONJ cases. In this module, Dr. Fang looks at the clinical implications of MRONJ for dentists. Learn:

• Why cancer patients and survivors may be vulnerable to invasive dentistry
• Which drugs are most known to cause MRONJ 
• How to assess risk factors for patients on bisphosphonate therapy
• How to treat a patient prior to IV bisphosphonate therapy

Part III: Type 2 Diabetes

One out of eight Americans is diabetic, and over 100 million are either diabetic or pre-diabetic. In this module, Dr. Fang discusses oral sedation dentistry and the implications for diabetic patients. Upon review of case studies for treating ASA III+ patients with diabetes the dentist will understand:

• Specific medical information you’ll need to help evaluate diabetic patients for sedation dentistry.
• The adequacy of control over HgA1c levels.
• Considerations, cardiovascular concerns, and contraindications regarding diabetic medications (oral hypoglycemics) patients may be taking for their condition.
• Oral hypoglycemic agents: which are safe?
• The use of continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps to manage sedation patients.
• How to medically manage and treat sedation patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Keep your oral sedation permit current while gleaning insight from two doctors with more than 75 years of combined experience.

Buy this course today and access it for one full year.

All sales are final.

Purchase of this course grants access for one year and requires an internet connection, computer with video and audio capabilities, and in some cases, Adobe Reader to view handouts and articles.

Watch the video and complete the quiz to earn 4 CE credits.

Scientific support and additional resources are available here. 

You can download this course and watch it anywhere using the DOCS APP. Get it on Google Play or the Apple Store.

This course requires an active sedation permit or previous attendance at Adult Oral Sedation Dentistry, Light Sedation: N2O and Oral Sedatives, Master Series – Advanced Sedation, IV Sedation Certification or IV Sedation Recertification.