Courses
Managing the High-Risk Caries Patient
Randy F. Huffines, DDS
CE Credits: 3 Hour Lecture | Subject: Restorative/Preventative | Recommended for: All Attendees | Prerequisite: This lecture is recommended for Dr. Huffines afternoon lecture, but not required.
Treating the patient with rampant caries can be frustrating to both the dental team and the patient. The patient blames the dentist for recurrent caries around recently placed restorations; the dentist blames the hygienist for inadequate preventive recommendations; the hygienist blames the patient for not following instructions! Our understanding of the caries risk factors is much more sophisticated now and we know that our simple instructions to just “brush and floss” are not adequate for many patients. This is especially true for older patients who now have more caries than teenagers. In fact, caries – not periodontal disease – is now the primary cause of tooth loss in older adults. Using examples from patients in his own practice, Dr. Huffines will guide you through protocols that are based on assessing the risk of the individual patient. An unbiased, evidence-based evaluation of prescription and OTC chemotherapeutic agents without the media hype will furnish you with the latest information to guide your product selection. Myths and controversies about antimicrobial protocols, ACP, CCP-ACP, CCP-ACFP, silver diamine fluoride, sodium fluoride, difluorosilane varnishes, and xylitol products will be explored in detail. Gain expertise in managing this group of patients that desperately need our help.
Learning Objectives:
- Quickly assess the caries risk for an individual patient.
- Manage the patient with inadequate saliva.
- Properly prescribe chemotherapeutic agents.
About the Speaker:
For over 35 years, Dr. Randy Huffines has treated older and medically complex adults in a traditional private practice, nursing homes, and hospitals. For 27 years he was Director of Geriatric Dentistry at the Quillen Medical Center in Johnson City, TN. Randy is recognized as one of the country’s leading experts on aging, medically complex patients, and oral health and is a frequent speaker at national conferences. He is a Past President and a Fellow of the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry, a Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, a Diplomate of the American Board of Special Care Dentistry, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2004 he was appointed to the American Dental Association’s Elder Care Task Force. He has served on the Editorial Board of two major dental drug references. Randy has held faculty appointments in colleges of dentistry, medicine, nursing, and allied health sciences. Financial Relationship – none reported.
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