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

This online 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 medical issues, like asthma and diabetes, are commonplace and well-diagnosed. Others, like sleep apnea, are common but go largely undiagnosed. Special dental management is also required for cardiac patients on antiplatelet drug therapy.

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: New Antiplatelet Drugs

At a time when both dentistry and medicine are galloping ahead at break-neck speed, it’s critical for the dental professional to understand developments in medicine that can critically impact care of their patients.

Brilinta and Effient are branded, antiplatelets used by patients who’ve suffered heart attacks or have exhibited symptoms of heart disease. In this module, Dr. Fang looks at the clinical implications of providing sedation to patients on antiplatelet agents.

• Understand why more patients are using antiplatelets.
• Review the differences between Plavix and the new antiplatelet drugs being prescribed.
• Learn how to provide treatment for patients on Brilinta and Effient.
• Identify which drugs are safe and which should be avoided for sedation patients.

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

Scientific support and additional resources are available here.

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 credit.

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