Silver Diamine Fluoride: An underutilized tool in the dental armamentarium

Flor Piedrasanta, MSDH, MPH, RDH

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) arrests and remineralizes active carious lesions, it’s non-invasive, easy to administer and can be applied within minutes. Unfortunately, many dental professionals have yet to embrace this important tool. This course is designed to help you understand the research behind SDF and the practical application of it.

Objectives:

• Describe SDF as an arresting agent and prevention tool
• Review proper application and clinical protocol
• Discuss case selection and practical application

Flor Piedrasanta, MSDFH, MPH, RDH

Flor is a practicing dental hygienist, a clinical professor, a public health professional and owner of Vertex Healthcare Training and Consulting Services. Flor has extensive experience in the dental field working in various environments including mobile units, short and long term care facilities, school based programs, private practice, educational facilities, in government programs and in medical settings. Her passion is in public health, medical/dental integration, and finding creative solutions to improve dental utilization and oral health accessibility for all. Flor started her education at Quinsigamond Community College earning an Associate degree in Dental Hygiene. A  life-long learner, Flor continued her education and now holds a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene and a Master of Public Health from MCPHS University. Flor is a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Seminar information

Date: Thursday, April 13, 2023

Location: GADHA Zoom Webinar platform 

Time: 6:30 PM CDT Membership Meeting; 7:00 PM CDT Lecture start

CE units – 1.0 

Cost to attendees: Free for ADHA members; $25 for guests

Join us for our February CE with the one, the only, the leader, the former Austinite, Julie Martin!!

Course Title:

Oral Health Implications of Individuals with Substance Use Disorder

Description:

This course is an overview of oral health implications of patients with a variety of substance use disorders and how dental healthcare providers can screen, address, and provide resources for those patients struggling with substance use disorders.

Course Objectives

1. Oral health signs of substance use disorders for methamphetamine use, opioid use (legal & Illegal rx), and alcohol
2. Screening for Substance Use Disorder (SAMSHA Indices) for methamphetamine use, opioid use, and alcohol use
3. Addressing the issues and providing resources for methamphetamine, opioids, and alcohol use

Speaker Julie L. Martin, RDH, MSDH, MPH, MAADH, ECP-III

Julie has been in the dental profession for over 30 years spanning from her early years in the Air Force to current. She has versatile experience in private practice, public health outreach, academic education, and has been published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene. Currently, Julie is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University’s College of Health Professions where she teaches Community Health Management and Research along with all levels of clinical education. Julie has been an active ADHA member from component, constituent, and national levels. She is currently the President of the American Academy of Dental Hygienists.

Seminar Information: 

Date: Thursday, February 9, 2023

Location: GADHA Zoom Webinar platform 

Time: 6:30 PM Membership Meeting; 7:00 PM Lecture start

CE units – 1.5 Maximum
Cost to attendees: Free – $25

Course Title: On the tip of my Tongue:  Differential Diagnosis for Tongue Lesions

Short Course Description (50 words or less): A part of a complete oral exam is the study of the tongue. It is intrinsically related to the health of the individual and its alterations can reflect changes in the health of our patients.

Early recognition of oral signs and symptoms plays a crucial role in providing patients with better treatment and prognosis. 

Course Objectives: 

1. Identify pathologies associated with benign and malignant tongue lesions
2. Classify and create a decision tree for tongue pathologies
3. Apply the provided knowledge when establishing differential diagnoses for benign and malignant tongue pathologies
4. Develop a system to effectively communicate the occurrence of tongue lesions among the dental team.
5. Interpret the clinical signs of the pathologies associated with malignant tongue lesions.

Andreina Sucre, RDH, International Dentist, Oral Pathology and Oral Surgery Specialist, is a full time Dental Hygienist at a private practice in South Florida. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela where she earned her dental degree in 2002 from Universidad Santa Maria. In December 2005, she earned her certificate and specialization’s degree in Oral Pathology & Oral Surgery from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, School of Dentistry in Bogota, Colombia. In 2016 she moved to the States and in 2019 she began her process to earn her Dental Hygienist License in Florida. She has written articles about how stress is a main factor in the development of periodontal disease, and her dissertation about the preservation of Salivary IgA (S-IgA)  using protease inhibitors. She is very outspoken about the importance of early education and prevention in dental care, and in her free time she likes to go to public schools and speak to non native English speaking kids about oral health. Also she enjoys being involved in her community and volunteers in oral screening campaigns.

Seminar Information: 

Date: Thursday, January 12, 2023

Location: GADHA Zoom Webinar platform 

Time: 6:30 PM Membership Meeting; 7:00 PM CE Event

CE units – 1.5

Cost to attendees: ADHA members are free!

Guests donate $25 to TexHyPAC