Manifestations of Systemic Disease

The relationship between oral and systemic health is multifaceted and reciprocal. Many systemic conditions may manifest in the oral cavity – sometimes prior to their diagnosis. While systemic disease or its therapy may adversely affect oral health, oral disease may also negatively impact systemic health and quality of life. By virtue of their training, oral health practitioners are familiar with the plethora of oral abnormalities that may result from or predispose patients to systemic illness.
Dental professionals are uniquely positioned to monitor disease control and adherence to therapy in patients diagnosed with systemic disease, to utilize salivary diagnostics and other evidence-based methodologies to identify those at risk for oral or systemic illness and to initiate appropriate referrals. This interactive, case-based presentation highlights new horizons for dentistry as a primary care discipline with significant potential for contribution to public health.

You will learn about:

• Orofacial manifestations of systemic disease or its therapy (e.g. hereditary, hematologic, infectious, endocrinopathic, immune-mediated, dermatologic, granulomatous, cardiovascular, pulmonary and metastatic conditions).
• Potential impact of these manifestations on dental care.
• Systemic implications of oral disease or its therapy.
• Screening for medical conditions in a dental setting.
• Role of emerging salivary diagnostics in dentistry.
• Medicolegal implications.