13th Annual Alumni Day Program Windows of Opportunity

Friday, April 4, 2008

AM Program

An overview of the methamphetamine epidemic

C O U R S E   D E S C R I P T I O N

Methamphetamine, also known pharmaceutically as desoxyephedrine, acts as a psychostimulant with legitimate use in the treatment of narcolepsy and some cases of ADHD.  Unfortunately, clandestine production and distribution of this drug by amateur backyard chemists throughout the US has led to its having become the recreational drug of choice for many young people.  The oral symptoms are characterized by rampant caries and excessive wear.  Because the decay pattern is so characteristic, some perceive “meth mouth” to be a true disease.  Our purpose in this presentation is to explore the mechanisms of the breakdown and to create an understanding of this disease process both physiologically and psychologically.

C O U R S E   O B J E C T I V E S

At the end of this program the participant will be able to:

C O U R S E   P R E S E N T E R

Peggy P. Alexander, RDH, DDS, MPH, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of General Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Dental School.  She is a former faculty member in the School of Allied Health, Department of Dental Hygiene.  After earning a BS degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Alabama in 1961, Dr. Alexander practiced dental hygiene for ten years in Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, and North Carolina before entering dental school.

Addressing social and cultural dimensions

C O U R S E   D E S C R I P T I O N

A common goal for oral health care professionals is to provide the best care to all patients.  For this to occur, providers must assess and recognize diverse social, behavioral and cultural factors.  Each provider should acknowledge the values, attitudes, and beliefs that patients bring to each encounter.  Patient-centeredness and cultural competence have been promoted as approaches to improve health care for individual patients, communities, and populations.  This session will discuss elements from both concepts by considering how health care providers and patients interact at the interpersonal level and how patients are cared for by the health care system as a whole.  Providing culturally competent and patient-centered care encourages practitioners to adopt a biopsychosocial model of practice.  Methods will be discussed to understand social and cultural background of patients, their families, and the environment in which they live.  As an educator, the dental professional promotes oral health and prevents oral diseases. Therefore, for the best outcome dental professionals need to apply practices to overcome communication barriers, facilitate patient –provider interactions and provide culturally effective oral health care for patients.

C O U R S E   O B J E C T I V E S

At the end of this program the participant will be able to:

C O U R S E   P R E S E N T E R

Magda de la Torre, RDH, MS, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene, School of Allied Health Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,  where is a graduate of both the Certificate and Bachelor of Science Programs.  Ms. de la Torre has her masters in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management from the School of Rural Public Health at Texas A&M University. Ms. de la Torre has vast experience in implementing culturally competent and culturally sensitive components of health programs while working with national, state and local programs and organizations.  She has presented on topics such as cultural competency,  social responsibilities, ethics, migrant health, border health issues and health disparities. Ms. de la Torre has written  a chapter on Cultural Competency for the textbook  of Community Oral Health Practice for the Dental Hygienist and another 2nd edition Prevention in Clinical Oral Healthcare.

Afternoon Program

Therapeutic interventions for bone disease and related oral implications including osteoradionecrosis and bisphosphonate related jaw necrosis

C O U R S E   D E S C R I P T I O N

Bone mass generally peaks around the age of 30-35, and then starts to slowly decline at around age 50 in women (60 in men) when you start to lose bone mass faster than your body can grow it back. This happens to all adults, however critical loss of bone mass (osteoporosis) is much more common in women. Osteoporosis is responsible for 1.3 million fractures in the United States annually. Fourteen percent of fifty-year-old white females are expected to have hip fractures in their lifetime. Fracture complications kill as many women each year as does breast cancer. Bone loss in the oral cavity is also a significant problem with age. As much as 94% of women in America over 65 have dental bone loss. Both osteoporosis and oral bone loss are asymptomatic and diagnosis is usually made after a problem exists.

The goal of this course is to provide the participant with a better understanding of the foundation of oral structure and the relationship to oral health.  Presenters will review the process of bone metabolism to include a discussion of osteoclast and osteoblast activity and discussion of the life cycle changes to this process. Nutritional and pharmaceutical impact on bone integrity will be explored through the use of a case study presentation.  Bone disease with a focus on osteoporosis and malignant disease will be reviewed.  Finally, presenters will discuss the impact of cancer and osteoporosis treatment, including radiation and bisphosphonate therapy on current and future patient care.

C O U R S E   O B J E C T I V E S

At the end of this program the participant will be able to:

C O U R S E   P R E S E N T E R S

Thomas Weil, DDS, MD earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and received his dental degree from Baylor College of Dentistry. His medical degree was received from the University of Texas. General Surgery and specialty training was completed
at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Currently,
Dr. Weil is a partner with Austin OMS Associates, a large oral and maxillofacial surgery group with ten partners and nine offices in Central Texas. The group provides the full scope of contemporary OMS services including traditional dentoalveolar surgery, orthognathics, aesthetic facial surgery, implantology, and trauma. Dr. Weil’s practice focuses on jaw and facial surgery, sleep medicine and implant care. Dr. Weil has published numerous articles, abstracts and chapters in peer reviewed scientific publications. He lectures periodically locally and nationally on topics related to clinical oral and maxillofacial surgery. Currently he is serving a six year term as a board examiner for the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Stacy Weil, RDH, MS,  is the Director of Project for North America of PPD, a large global contract research organization that manages Phase I-IV clinical drug and device trials for their pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Ms. Weil manages many global adult and pediatric projects in various therapeutic areas. Currently she is responsible for and oversees a group of approximately 250 North American project managers. Ms. Weil presents lectures several times a year to area educational institutions and community groups on the topics of nutrition, cancer prevention, research, drug development and selected dental topics. She has authored several journal articles in peer reviewed scientific publications and contributed text book chapters to three separate teaching textbooks currently available globally in the areas of dentistry, nutrition and research. Ms. Weil earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and earned her Master of Science degree from University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

R E G I S T R A T I O N   I N F O R M A T I O N

To register: Please download and complete the registration form and send it with payment to:

13th Annual Alumni Day Program
UTHSCSA, Department of Dental Hygiene
Mail Code 6244
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900

By Fax: (210) 567-8843

Checks are payable to UTHSCSA (enrollment is not complete without payment). For information about this program or any other dental hygiene continuing education course please contact Tina Stein, at (210) 567-8841/ Fax 210-567-8843 or e-mail stein@uthscsa.edu. Or check out our website at www.uthscsa.edu/sah/dh/html/cont-ed.html.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Full refund of tuition will be honored if cancellation is provided on or before one week prior to course. Partial tuition will be honored for cancellations after one week prior to course. No refund of tuition fee will be honored for cancellations on the day of the course.

Oxide Monitoring Certification Course for Dental Auxilary March 7 and June 6, 2008 Go to www.uthscsa.edu/sah/dh/html/cont-ed.html for more information.