Managing the Medically Compromised Patient (for Dental Hygienists and Therapists)

The course will cover the following areas:

• Importance: I am not a doctor, why do I need to know?
• Prevalence of medical problems: how likely is it that I'll see a patient with a medical problem?
• Risk assessment: to treat, wait or refer?
• Pain and anxiety control: what can I do to reduce risk?
• Patient access and positioning: before I book an appointment what do I need to consider?
• Treatment modification: adapt or stop?

We'll also look at the following problems and their solutions:

• Medical conditions which make a patient more likely to bleed - what do you need to do to reduce the risk?
• Anti-thromobotic drugs and their impact on dental treatment - including the novel agents
• INR: to do or not to do?
• Be confident treating a patient after myocardial infarction
• Antibiotics for cardiac patients: if the patient asks for them, what should I do?
• Hip replacement: if the orthopaedic surgeon says the patient needs this, what should I do?
• Patients having cancer therapy: what should I do, how can I help?
• Dementia and it's impact on the mouth - what can I do to help?