David B. Clark
David B. Clark, DDS, MSc (Oral Pathology), FAAOP, FRCD(C)
Sponsored by ODHA
Psychiatric disease and oral disease are two of the most prevalent of all health problems that exist in society today. In general terms, mental illness and the resulting disabilities associated with these diseases cause immeasurable difficulties and stigma for the patients as well as family and friends.
Every oral health-care practice will have patients who suffer from some form of mental illness. It is incumbent on health-care practitioners to improve and enhance their knowledge of this often-complex yet “silent” aspect of a patient’s medical history. Participants will acquire an appreciation and understanding of a patient’s overall psychological health as it impacts and influences their ability to provide optimal oral care.
Mental health and oral health significantly impact one another. This session will address oral health problems that arise as manifestations of mental illness, how medications used to treat mental illness can interact with drugs used in dentistry, as well as their many side effects (e.g., xerostomia).
Health professionals must be prepared to deal with the sequelae of the medical management of any particular psychiatric illness as well as the oro-facial ramifications of the illness itself. This in turn will impact on the success of oral care treatment and planning for many of these patients who often have decreased compliance and/or consent for preventive oral care.
Learning objectives:
- Demonstrate how mental health and oral health are closely intertwined and how one can directly impact the other.
- Highlight a number of psychiatric diagnoses, including mood disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder), schizophrenia, eating disorder, anxiety and panic disorders, addictions and dementia.
- Understand the disabilities and stigma associated with mental illness as well as enhance knowledge of the various psychiatric disorders to be better prepared to provide oral care treatment on a highly individualized basis.
- Session handout will be provided.