22AAP-EV3: Dental Hygiene Symposium

Speakers: Iain L.C. Chapple, Maria (Mia) L. Geisinger, Pumima Kumar, Paul S. Rosen

The Dental Hygiene Symposium will provide an overview of several contemporary topics in periodontology. The Symposium will include a discussion of the link between mental health disorders and periodontal disease and the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration as well as an explanation of the critical importance of risk assessment and why it is a critical component of individualized patient care. Attendees will also gain insight into how bacteria affect implant health and identify when intervention can be effective in treating a diseased implant. Emerging ways to save teeth and implants with advanced disease will also be covered. The course will conclude with a panel discussion featuring all speakers and provide the audience with a unique opportunity for Q&A.

Educational Objectives:
• Learn to assess dental patients for signs and symptoms of untreated mental health disorders, understand the link between mental health disorders and periodontal disease, and evaluate emerging data regarding treatment strategies.  
• Explain what risk assessment is, why it is important to patients, how it fits in the periodontal care pathway and discuss the need and rationale for periodontal risk assessment in non-dental settings.        
• Understand host-microbiome interactions, understand the role of bacteria in protecting implant health, and identify timepoints for ideal intervention.  
• Define what is considered hopeless for teeth, discuss the benefits of regenerative approaches to maintaining failing teeth and dental implants, and list what advances are enhancing regenerative approaches.